Regeneration of Retinotectal Projections After Optic Tectum Removal in Adult Newts

Purpose: When injured, the adult newt possesses the remarkable capability to regenerate tissues and organs with return of function and physiology. One example is the newt eye, in which regeneration can restore normal vision if the retina or lens has been removed. We wanted to examine how the retinotectal projections regenerate after removal of the brain’s optic tectum and establish this animal as a model for retinal projection as well as a central nervous system regeneration model

Characterization of the Anti-BP180 Autoantibody Reactivity Profile and Epitope Mapping in Bullous Pemphigoid Patients11Tables 1, 2, 3 and 5 can be found at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/products/journals/suppmat/jid/jid22126/jid22126sm.htm

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A Homozygous Nonsense Mutation within the Dystonin Gene Coding for the Coiled-Coil Domain of the Epithelial Isoform of BPAG1 Underlies a New Subtype of Autosomal Recessive Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of autosomal dominant and recessive blistering skin diseases in which pathogenic mutations have been reported in 13 different genes encoding structural proteins involved in keratinocyte integrity, as well as cell–matrix or cell–cell adhesion. We now report an inherited skin fragility disorder with a homozygous nonsense mutation in the dystonin gene (DST) that encodes the coiled-coil domain of the epithelial isoform of bullous pemphigoid antigen 1, BPAG1-e (also known as BP230). The mutation, p.Gln1124X, leads to the loss of hemidesmosomal inner plaques and a complete absence of skin immunostaining for BPAG1-e, as well as reduced labeling for plectin, the β4 integrin subunit, and for type XVII collagen. The 38-year-old affected individual has lifelong generalized trauma-induced spontaneous blisters and erosions, particularly around the ankles. In addition, he experiences episodic numbness in his limbs, which started at the age of 37 years. These neurological symptoms may also be due to DST gene mutation, although he has a concomitant diagnosis of CADASIL (cerebral arteriopathy, autosomal dominant, with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy), a cerebral small-vessel arteriopathy, which thus complicates the genotype–phenotype interpretation. With regard to skin blistering, the clinicopathological findings expand the molecular basis of EB by identifying BPAG1-e pathology in a new form of autosomal recessive EB simplex