Calcineurin is a calcium-dependent serine–threonine protein phosphatase. Calcineurin activates the nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic (NFAT)c, a transcription factor, by dephosphorylating the protein. The activated NFATc is then translocated into the nucleus, where it upregulates the expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2), which, in turn, stimulates the growth and differentiation of T-...

Development of the heart is complex and cells with different embryonic origins participate in cardiac organogenesis. The first and second heart fields deliver cells to generate the atrial and ventricular chambers and also participate in venous inflow and arterial outflow tract formation. There are also important cellular contributions from two extra-cardiac cell populations, i.e. cardiac neural...

Skeletal muscle development and growth are regulated through multiple signaling pathways that include insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and calcineurin activation of nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) transcription factors. The developmental regulation and molecular mechanisms that control IGF-I gene expression in murine embryos and in differentiating C2C12 skeletal myocytes were exam...

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled 2 x 2 factorial chemoprevention trial was conducted in Linxian, China to assess the effects of selenomethionine and celecoxib on the natural history of esophageal squamous dysplasia. Results from this study indicated that asymptomatic adults with mild dysplasia were more likely to show an improvement when treated with selenomethionine compared wi...

Sustained pressure overload leads to compensatory myocardial hypertrophy and subsequent heart failure, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Further unraveling of the cellular processes involved is essential for development of new treatment strategies. We have investigated the hypothesis that the transmembrane Z-disc proteoglycan syndecan-4, a co-receptor for integrins, connecting extrace...