G proteins couple delta opioid receptors to multiple cellular effector systems and are critical components of the delta opioid signal transduction cascade. To investigate the physical association of delta opioid receptors with G proteins, the cloned mouse delta opioid receptor was solubilized, and the G proteins associated with the receptor were identified through coimmunoprecipitation of the r...

PURPOSE To study the role of TGF-beta2 in posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and to determine whether CAT-152 (lerdelimumab), a fully human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the effect of TGF-beta2, can also provide therapeutic benefit for PCO. METHODS In vitro capsular bags were prepared from human donor eyes and maintained in a 5% CO(2) atmosphere at 35 degrees C. To investigate expre...

PURPOSE Corneal endothelium in vivo is arrested in G1, the phase of the cell cycle that prepares cells for DNA synthesis. In many cell types, transforming factor (TGF)-beta inhibits proliferation by inducing G1-phase arrest. Evidence indicates that corneal endothelial cells synthesize mRNA for TGF-beta1 and are also bathed in aqueous humor that contains TGF-beta2 (mainly in a latent form). As s...

PURPOSE Transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and fibromodulin (FMOD) are important extracellular matrix components of the sclera and have been shown to be associated with the development of high myopia. Our aim was to examine the association between myopia and the polymorphisms within TGF-beta2, bFGF, and FMOD. METHODS The study group comprised ...

BACKGROUND In vitro and some in vivo studies suggested that genetic haplotypes may have an impact on beta2-agonist mediated airway responses in asthmatics. Due to strong linkage disequilibrium the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the beta2-adrenoceptor gene result in only a limited number of haplotypes. We intended to evaluate the impact of beta2-adrenoceptor haplotypes on beta2-agonis...

BETA2/NeuroD1 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is expressed widely throughout the developing nervous system. Previous studies have shown that BETA2/NeuroD1 influences the fate of retinal cells in culture. To analyze the effect of BETA2/NeuroD1 on the structure and function of the retina, we examined a line of BETA2/NeuroD1 knock-out mice that survives until adulthood. At 2-...

The alpha1beta2gamma2 is the most abundant subtype of the GABA(A) receptor and is localized in many regions of the brain. To gain more insight into the role of this receptor subtype in the modulation of inhibitory neurotransmission, we generated mice lacking either the alpha1 or beta2 subunit. In agreement with the reported abundance of this subtype, >50% of total GABA(A) receptors are lost in ...

PURPOSE To determine the effects of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta2 on immune-response-related gene expression profiles in the stimulated human corneal endothelium (HCE). METHODS A human complementary DNA (cDNA) expression array analysis was used to investigate the effects of TGF-beta2 on cultured HCE incubated with interleukin (IL)-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Gene-sp...

BACKGROUND In dialysis-related amyloidosis, beta2-microglobulin accumulates as amyloid fibrils preferentially around bones and tendons provoking osteoarthritis. In addition to the pathologic role played by the amyloid fibrils, it can be speculated that a pathogenic role is also played by the high concentrations of soluble beta2-microglobulin because it is toxic for certain cell lines like HL60 ...

PURPOSE The increase in intraocular pressure in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) may involve transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta2 signaling, as TGF-beta2 is found in higher amounts than normal in the aqueous humor of patients with POAG. In vitro, TGF-beta2 causes an accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and an increase in TM outflow resistance. The prese...