IFN-gamma is well known as the signature cytokine of CD4+ T helper 1, CD8+, and natural killer cells, but recent studies demonstrate that antigen-presenting cells, in particular dendritic cells (DCs), are another potent source for this proinflammatory cytokine. T-bet, a transcription factor that controls IFN-gamma expression in CD4+ T cells, was reported recently to be expressed in human monocy...

Upon detection of antigen, CD4(+) T helper (Th) cells can differentiate into a number of effector types that tailor the immune response to different pathogens. Alternative Th1 and Th2 cell fates are specified by the transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3, respectively. Only a handful of target genes are known for these two factors and because of this, the mechanism through which T-bet and GATA-...

A well-defined poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA-b-C60) was synthesized using the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique and betainized with 1,3-sulfobetaine to yield a Bet-PDMAEMA-b-C60. The solution properties were then studied by light transmittance, viscometric, 1H NMR laser light scattering, and transmission electron macroscopic techniques. It was found that...

Background. Rome III criteria add physiological criteria to symptom-based criteria of chronic constipation (CC) for the diagnosis of defecatory disorders (DD). However, a gold-standard test is still lacking and physiological examination is expensive and time-consuming. Aim. Evaluate the usefulness of two low-cost tests-digital rectal examination (DRE) and balloon expulsion test (BET)-as screeni...

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity/mortality; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms are unclear. Vascular endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia has been partially attributed to changes in endothelin-1 (ET-1). Several enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; particularly MMP-2), cleave the inactive precursor big ET-1 (bET-1) to active ET-1. Notably,...

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity/ mortality; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood. Vascular endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia has been partially attributed to changes in endothelin-1 (ET-1). Several enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs, particularly MMP-2), cleave the inactive precursor bigET-1 (bET-1) to active ET-1...

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity/ mortality; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood. Vascular endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia has been partially attributed to changes in endothelin-1 (ET-1). Several enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs, particularly MMP-2), cleave the inactive precursor bigET-1 (bET-1) to active ET-1...

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity/ mortality; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood. Vascular endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia has been partially attributed to changes in endothelin-1 (ET-1). Several enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs, particularly MMP-2), cleave the inactive precursor bigET-1 (bET-1) to active ET-1...

BET family proteins are novel therapeutic targets for cancer and inflammation and represent the first chromatin readers against which small-molecule inhibitors have been developed. First-generation BET inhibitors have shown therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models, but the consequences of sustained BET protein inhibition in normal tissues remain poorly characterized. Using an inducible and re...

T-bet and STAT1 regulate IFN-gamma gene transcription in CD4+ T cells, which mediate protection against Leishmania. Here we show that T-bet and STAT1 are required for the induction of an efficient Th1 response during Leishmania donovani infection, but they play distinct roles in determining disease outcome. Both STAT1(-/-) and T-bet(-/-) mice failed to mount a Th1 response, but STAT1(-/-) mice ...