Apremilast prevents blistering in human epidermis and stabilizes keratinocyte adhesion in pemphigus

Pemphigus vulgaris is a life-threatening blistering skin disease caused by autoantibodies which destabilize cell adhesion of keratinocytes. The phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor apremilast prevents skin blistering by stabilizing the keratin filament anchorage of desmosomes

Immune-mediated denervation of the pineal gland underlies sleep disturbance in cardiac disease

Disruption of the physiologic sleep-wake cycle and low melatonin levels frequently accompany cardiac disease, yet the underlying mechanism has remained enigmatic. Immunostaining of sympathetic axons in optically cleared pineal glands from humans and mice with cardiac disease revealed their substantial denervation compared with controls. Spatial, single-cell, nuclear, and bulk RNA sequencing traced this defect back to the superior cervical ganglia (SCG), which responded to cardiac disease with accumulation of inflammatory macrophages, fibrosis, and the selective loss of pineal gland-innervating neurons. Depletion of macrophages in the SCG prevented disease-associated denervation of the pineal gland and restored physiological melatonin secretion. Our data identify the mechanism by which diurnal rhythmicity in cardiac disease is disturbed and suggest a target for therapeutic intervention

Protection of 5′‐Hydroxy Functions of Nucleosides

The 5‐hydroxy group is the primary hydroxy group of nucleosides. It is mandatory to protect 5‐hydroxyls in all methods of oligonucleotide synthesis that require nucleoside synthons. This unit discusses a wide variety of acid‐labile and base‐labile protecting groups, as well as enzymatic methods for 5‐protection and deprotection.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143732/1/cpnc0203.pd