To investigate the role of filamentous actin in the endocytic pathway, we used the cell-permeant drug Jasplakinolide (JAS) to polymerize actin in intact polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The uptake and accumulation of the fluid-phase markers fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were followed in JAS-treated or untreated cells with confocal fl...

The MAL (MAL/VIP17) proteolipid is a nonglycosylated integral membrane protein expressed in a restricted pattern of cell types, including T lymphocytes, myelin-forming cells, and polarized epithelial cells. Transport of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) to the apical surface of epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells appears to be mediated by a pathway involving glycolipid- and c...

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are multifunctional signaling molecules in embryogenesis. HGF binds to and activates Met receptor tyrosine kinase. The signaling receptor complex for GDNF typically includes both GDNF family receptor alpha1 (GFRalpha1) and Ret receptor tyrosine kinase. GDNF can also signal independently of Ret via GFRalpha1, a...

The subcellular localization of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3)-induced Ca2+ signals is important for the activation of many physiological functions. In epithelial cells the spatial distribution of InsP3 receptor is restricted to specific areas, but little is known about the relationship between the receptor's distribution and cell polarity. To investigate this relationship, the best known...

BACKGROUND This study aims to investigate the role of microtubule dynamics in the initiation of NWS/33 human influenza A (NWS) virus infection in MDCK and LLC-MK2 mammalian kidney cells. We previously demonstrated a host-dependent role of the actin cytoskeleton in inducing restriction during the early phases of NWS infection. Furthermore, we showed the differential infectious entry of NWS virus...

In autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the protein product of the gene defective in cystic fibrosis (CF), plays a crucial role in fluid accumulation, which promotes cyst swelling. Several studies have identified individuals afflicted by both ADPKD and CF. Two studies suggested that CF mutations might attenuate the sev...

Salmonella typhimurium is a facultative intracellular parasite, capable of penetrating, surviving, and multiplying within diverse eukaryotic cell types, including epithelial and phagocytic cells. We have been studying intracellular replication of S. typhimurium and found that it is essential in the pathogenesis of this bacterium. A total of 45,000 independent mini-Mu MudJ transposon mutants in ...

Liver X receptors (LXRs) are transcription factors belonging to the nuclear receptor super family, which act as regulators of lipid and glucose metabolism. However, LXRs have been shown to regulate the function of transporters in the kidney, including the Na-Pi cotransporter, organic anion transporter, and epithelial Na(+) channel. In this report, we demonstrated the ability of LXR ligands, bot...

In 2013, the first case of human infection with an avian influenza A virus (H7N9) was reported in China, and the human infection with this virus has continued as of 2016. At the request of the WHO, we have successfully developed candidate reassortant vaccine virus using A/Anhui/1/2013 and the high egg-growth master virus A/PR/8/1934. Recent plans regarding influenza vaccine production include u...