Developmental and pathological lymphangiogenesis: from models to human disease.

The lymphatic vascular system, the body's second vascular system present in vertebrates, has emerged in recent years as a crucial player in normal and pathological processes. It participates in the maintenance of normal tissue fluid balance, the immune functions of cellular and antigen trafficking and absorption of fatty acids and lipid-soluble vitamins in the gut. Recent scientific discoveries have highlighted the role of lymphatic system in a number of pathologic conditions, including lymphedema, inflammatory diseases, and tumor metastasis. Development of genetically modified animal models, identification of lymphatic endothelial specific markers and regulators coupled with technological advances such as high-resolution imaging and genome-wide approaches have been instrumental in understanding the major steps controlling growth and remodeling of lymphatic vessels. This review highlights the recent insights and developments in the field of lymphatic vascular biology

A simple method for extracting DNA from rhododendron plants infected with Phytophthora spp. for use in PCR

Among the numerous protocols that describe the extraction of DNA, those relating to the isolation of DNA from infected plants, are rare. This study describes a rapid and reliable method of extracting a high quality and quantity of DNA from rhododendron leaves artificially infected with Phytophthora cactorum, P. cambivora, P. cinnamomi, P. citrophthora, and P. plurivora. The use of the modified Doyle and Doyle protocol (1987) allowed us to obtain high quantity and quality DNA (18.26 μg from 100 mg of the fresh weight of infected leaves at the ratios of A260/280 and A260/230 - 1.83 and 1.72, respectively), suitable for conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR amplifications

Genome-Wide Gene Expression Analysis of NIH 3T3 Cell Line Under Mechanical Stimulation

Cyclic mechanical stretching induces biological and biomechanical response in cells. These responses are firstly determined by gene expression regulation in the cells of tissue. A method based on the CellDrum (R) Technology provided the environment for cyclic mechanical stimulation of NIH 3T3 cells in vitro. Cells were cultured on a silicone membrane. mRNA expression levels of the genes Egr1, Fgfr2, Tp53, Itgb3, and Itgb5 was evaluated by real-time PCR at stimulation times ranging from 5 min to 12 h with a cyclic strain of 0.25% at 0.25 Hz in order to decide which time period was most suitable for a subsequent detailed profiling. The genome-wide expression profile of NIH 3T3 cells was carried out by whole mouse genome microarrays. The mRNA expression levels of most genes tested were significantly changed after 1 h of mechanical stimulation. Subsequently, the mRNA samples of the 1-h stretched cells were hybridized to obtain a gene expression profile using microarrays. Real-time PCR results are shown to agree with the microarray results. The early response genes, such as Egr1, Egr2, Fos, Myc, Rela, Fas, Egfr1, and Fgfr2 playing a role in stretch activation of the signal transduction pathways were significantly up-regulated, whereas the only significantly down-regulated gene is Tfrc. Low level of mechanical stimulation was found to effect the expression of early responsive genes initiates alteration of NIH 3T3 behaviors to control the homeostasis of the fibroblasts