The prefrontal cortex plays a major role in cognitive control, but it is unclear how single genes and gene-gene interactions (genetic epistasis) impact neural and behavioral phenotypes. Both dopamine (DA) availability ("inverted U-model") and excitatory versus inhibitory DA receptor stimulation ("dual-state theory") have been linked to important principles of prefrontal processing. Catechol-O-m...

Background: Recent evidence suggests that individual variation in risk taking is partly due to genetic factors. Methodology/Principal Findings: We explore how self-reported risk taking in different domains correlates with variation in the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4). Past studies conflict on the influence of DRD4 in relation to risk taking. A sample of 237 serious tournament contract bridg...

The relationship of various dimensions of temperament, measured by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ), to polymorphisms of the D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) and D4 dopamine receptor (DRD4) genes was determined in 119 healthy Caucasian boys who had not yet begun to consume alcohol and other drugs of abuse. Total Novelty Seeking score of the TPQ was significantly higher in boys havi...

Th17 cells are critical effectors in inflammation and tissue damage such as bone erosion, but the mechanisms regulating their activation in this process are not fully understood. In this study, we considered the cooperation between cytokine receptors and integrin pathways in Th17-osteoclast function. We found that human Th17 cells coexpress IL-7R and the collagen-binding integrin α2β1 (CD49b), ...

Following influenza virus infection, memory CD8 T cells are found in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs, where they exhibit striking differences in survival. We have assessed persistence, phenotype, and function of memory CD8 T cells expressing the same TCR in the airways, lung parenchyma, and spleen following influenza virus infection in mice. In contrast to memory CD8 T cells in the spleen,...

Two new lignan glycosides named acutosides A (1) and B (2) have been isolated from the whole plant of Gentianella acute (Michx) Hulten. and their structures were determined as (-)-(7R,8S,7'E)-4-hydroxy-3,3'dimethoxy-7,4'-epoxy-8,5'-neolign-7'-ene-9,9'-diol 9'-ethyl ether-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and (-)-(7R,8S,7'E)4-hydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-7,4'-epoxy-8,5'-neolign-7'-ene-9,9'-diol 9-ethyl ether-9'...