0000000000635197
AUTHOR
Gottfried Brem
The function of the soluble interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor in vivo: sensitization of human soluble IL-6 receptor transgenic mice towards IL-6 and prolongation of the plasma half-life of IL-6.
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is considered an important mediator of acute inflammatory responses. Moreover, IL-6 functions as a differentiation and growth factor of hematopoietic precursor cells, B cells, T cells, keratinocytes, neuronal cells, osteoclasts, and endothelial cells. IL-6 exhibits its action via a receptor complex consisting of a specific IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and a signal transducing subunit (gp130). Soluble forms of both receptor components are generated by shedding and are found in patients with various diseases such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and others. The function of the soluble (s)IL-6R in vivo is unknown. Since human (h)IL-6 acts on human and…
Perlecan is critical for heart stability
Aims Perlecan is a heparansulfate proteoglycan found in basement membranes, cartilage, and several mesenchymal tissues that form during development, tumour growth, and tissue repair. Loss-of-function mutations in the perlecan gene in mice are associated with embryonic lethality caused primarily by cardiac abnormalities probably due to hemopericards. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying the early embryonic lethality and the pathophysiological relevance of perlecan for heart function. Methods and results Perlecan-deficient murine embryonic stem cells were used to investigate the myofibrillar network and the electrophysiological properties of single cardiomy…
Tracking Five Millennia of Horse Management with Extensive Ancient Genome Time Series
Summary Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expansion of languages. Here, we present the largest DNA time series for a non-human organism to date, including genome-scale data from 149 ancient animals and 129 ancient genomes (≥1-fold coverage), 87 of which are new. This extensive dataset allows us to assess the modern legacy of past equestrian civilizations. We find that two extinct horse lineages existed during early domestication, one at the far western (Iberia) and the other at the far eastern range (Siberia) of Eurasia. None of these contributed significantly to modern diversity. We show that the influence of Persian-related horse …