Survival and death of photoreceptors in degenerative diseases of the retina is controlled by a multitude of genes and endogenous factors. Some genes may be involved in the degenerative process itself whereas others may be part of an endogenous defense system. We show in two models of retinal degeneration that photoreceptor death strongly induces expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in...

BACKGROUND The presence of hydrosalpinges is associated with lower implantation and pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF-embryo transfer, while salpingectomy improves these parameters. Although the mechanism by which hydrosalpinges affects fertility is not entirely understood, an adverse effect on endometrial receptivity has been postulated. In this study, we hypothesized that the adverse ef...

The mammalian olfactory epithelium (OE) is composed of primary olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) that are renewed throughout adulthood by local, restricted neuronal progenitor cells. The molecular signals that control this neurogenesis in vivo are unknown. Using olfactory bulb ablation (OBX) in adult mice to trigger synchronous mitotic stimulation of neuronal progenitors in the OE, we show the i...

Nitric oxide laser-induced-fluorescence (NO-LIF) 2-D imaging measurements using a new multi-spectral detection strategy are reported for high-pressure flames (1–60 bar). This work builds on previous research that identified interference LIF from O2 and CO2 in high-pressure flames and optimized the choice of excitation strategies as a function of application conditions. In this study, design rul...

BACKGROUND The invasion of first trimester extravillous trophoblast (EVT) to decidua is an important event in placentation. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is an essential factor for mouse implantation, and it is reported that LIF may be involved in human first trimester EVT invasion. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is also known as a critical factor for first trimester EVT invasion. In this study, we...

The cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) modulates glial and neuronal function in development and after peripheral nerve injury, but little is known regarding its role in the injured adult CNS. To further understand the biological role of LIF and its potential mechanisms of action after CNS injury, effects of cellularly delivered LIF on axonal growth, glial activation, and expression of tr...

Mice genetically deficient in growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF8/myostatin) had markedly increased muscle fiber numbers and fiber hypertrophy. In the regenerating muscle of mice possessing FGF6 mutation, fiber remodeling was delayed. Although myostatin and FGF6 may be important for the maintenance, regeneration and/or hypertrophy of muscle, little work has been done on the possible role ...

Purified bacterially synthesized recombinant murine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was injected in varying doses for up to 2 weeks into adult DBA/2 and C3H/HeJ mice. At high doses (2 micrograms, three times daily) LIF exhibited toxic effects seen as behavioral changes, loss of body fat, and thymus atrophy. Dose-related rises were observed in blood platelets, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, a...

Cells of the murine hemopoietic cell line FDC-P1 were multiply infected with a retroviral construct containing cDNA encoding the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to produce cells secreting high levels of LIF. Injection of these cells to unirradiated or irradiated syngeneic DBA/2 mice resulted in animals engrafted with LIF-producing cells in the marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes and with elevated ...

We have investigated the in vitro effects of the cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on normal murine hematopoietic progenitors by measuring recovery and retroviral vector infection efficiency of 13-day posttransplant, spleen-colony-forming cell (CFU-S 13) in short-term culture. Up to a twofold increase in CFU-S13 recovery was observed, from 9.7 x 10(-5) cells in untreated controls to 17....