The stochastic Anderson model in discrete or continuous space is defined for a class of non-Gaussian space-time potentials W as solutions u to the multiplicative stochastic heat equation u(t, x) = 1 + ∫ t 0 κ∆u(s, x)ds+ ∫ t 0 βW (ds, x)u(s, x) with diffusivity κ and inverse-temperature β. The relation with the corresponding polymer model in a random environment is given. The large time exponent...

β2-microglobulin (β2-m) has become the focus of intense scrutiny since the discovery of its undesirable roles promoting osteomimicry and cancer progression. β2-m is a well-known housekeeping protein that forms complexes with the heavy chain of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, which are heterodimeric cell surface proteins that present antigenic peptides to cytotoxic T cells. O...

INTRODUCTION β2→1-fructans are dietary fibers. Main objectives of this study were 1) to demonstrate direct signalling of β2→1-fructans on immune cells, 2) to study whether this is mediated by the pattern recognition receptors Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain-containing proteins (NODs), and 3) to relate the observed effects to the chain length differences ...

AIMS β2-adrenergic stimulation causes beneficial effects on structure and function of regenerating muscles; thus, the β2-adrenoceptor may play an important role in the muscle regenerative process. Here, we investigated the role of the β2 -adrenoceptor in skeletal muscle regeneration. METHODS Tibialis anterior (TA) muscles from β2-adrenoceptor knockout (β2 KO) mice were cryolesioned and analys...

BACKGROUND Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is a common complication of cataract surgery. Transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) plays important roles in the development of PCO. The existing pharmacological treatments are not satisfactory and can have toxic side effects. METHODOLOGIES/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We evaluated the effect of pirfenidone on proliferation, migration and epithlial-mes...

β2-Microglobulin is the major prognostic factor in multiple myeloma, a known comorbidity of Gaucher disease. We evaluated herein serum β2-microglobulin levels of 31 type 1 Gaucher patients; for 8/31 patients, pre- and post-treatment comparisons were made. Thirteen patients (on treatment = 6) had high levels of β2-microglobulin, and showed higher chitotriosidase activity and Severity Score Index...

domain of the immunoglobulin molecule [3]. β2-microglobulin forms the invariant light chain portion of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules [4-6], which can be found on the membrane of all nucleated cells [7]. Thus, cellular membrane turnover is the main source of serum β2-microglobulin [3]. Because of its small size, β2-microgloUrinary β2-Microglobulin is a Sensitive Indica...

OBJECTIVE We have shown previously that preterm infants are at risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an inflammatory bowel necrosis typically seen in infants born prior to 32 weeks' gestation, because of the developmental deficiency of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 in the intestine. The present study was designed to investigate all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) as an inducer of TGF-β2 in ...

Skeletal myopathy is a hallmark of heart failure (HF) and has been associated with a poor prognosis. HF and other chronic degenerative diseases share a common feature of a stressed system: sympathetic hyperactivity. Although beneficial acutely, chronic sympathetic hyperactivity is one of the main triggers of skeletal myopathy in HF. Considering that β2 -adrenoceptors mediate the activity of sym...

Functional activation of the neuronal K(+)-Cl(-) co-transporter KCC2 (also known as SLC12A5) is a prerequisite for shifting GABAA responses from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing during development. Here, we introduce transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2) as a new regulator of KCC2 membrane trafficking and functional activation. TGF-β2 controls membrane trafficking, surface expression and activi...