Expression of human β-defensin-3 in gingival epithelia

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Association between intelligence and COMT genotypes in Chinese healthy children

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) influences dopamine concentration in the pre-frontal cortex (PFC). The G/A transition in the exon 4 of the COMT gene, which results in a valine (Val) to methionine (Met) amino acid substitution (Val158Met), can bring on different enzymatic activities. Much research has found that the Met/Met genotype associated with low enzymatic activity and may enhance cognitive function. We applied one-way ANOVA to detect the effect of the COMT genotypes to intelligence in 108 Chinese children with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. We found COMT Val158Met polymorphism had a significant main effect on intelligence (F (2, 102) = 3.47, p=0.035) and it could predict 4.7% of intelligence. Our results also suggest that Met/Met genotype has a positive effect on intelligence. However, we found no significant interaction between gender and COMT genotype to intelligence

Association between creativity and COMT genotype

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) influences dopamine concentration in the pre-frontal cortex (PFC). The G/A transition in the exon 4 of the COMT gene, which results in a valine (Val) to methionine (Met) amino acid substitution (Val158Met), can bring on different enzymatic activities. Much research has found that the Met/Met genotype associated with low enzymatic activity and may enhance cognitive function. Our research aimed to test the association between COMT genotype and creativity. We applied one-way ANOVA to detect the effect of the COMT genotypes to creative ability and creative potentials in 108 Chinese children with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. COMT genotypes were not related to creative ability and creative potential except imagination. Val/Val carriers are more likely to imagine than Met/Met carriers (F (2, 105) =4.082, p=.02). We also found that COMT Val158Met polymorphism had a significant main effect on intelligence (F (2, 102) = 3.47, p=0.035) and it could predict 4.7% of intelligence. Our results suggest that Met/Met genotype has a positive effect on intelligence but not on creative ability. However, we found no significant interaction between gender and COMT genotype to intelligence

Hyphal invasion of Candida albicans inhibits human beta-defensins expression

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P. gingivalis LPS enhances human β-defensins expression in gingival epithelia

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P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharides upregulate protease-activated receptor expression in gingival epithelium

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Expression of human β-defensins-1 and -2 in periodontal health and disease

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P. gingivalis LPS modulates antimicrobial peptide expression in gingival epithelia

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P. gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide with different structures differentially modulates innate responses

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Genetic inhibition of neurotransmission reveals role of glutamatergic input to dopamine neurons in high-effort behavior

Midbrain dopamine neurons are crucial for many behavioral and cognitive functions. As the major excitatory input, glutamatergic afferents are important for control of the activity and plasticity of dopamine neurons. However, the role of glutamatergic input as a whole onto dopamine neurons remains unclear. Here we developed a mouse line in which glutamatergic inputs onto dopamine neurons are specifically impaired, and utilized this genetic model to directly test the role of glutamatergic inputs in dopamine-related functions. We found that while motor coordination and reward learning were largely unchanged, these animals showed prominent deficits in effort-related behavioral tasks. These results provide genetic evidence that glutamatergic transmission onto dopaminergic neurons underlies incentive motivation, a willingness to exert high levels of effort to obtain reinforcers, and have important implications for understanding the normal function of the midbrain dopamine system.Fil: Hutchison, M. A.. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Gu, X.. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Adrover, Martín Federico. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Lee, M. R.. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Hnasko, T. S.. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Alvarez, V. A.. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Lu, W.. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unido