Boston Children's Hospital

About: Boston Children's Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Transplantation. The organization has 165409 authors who have published 215589 publications receiving 6885627 citations.

Calcium regulation of neuronal gene expression.

Abstract: Plasticity is a remarkable feature of the brain, allowing neuronal structure and function to accommodate to patterns of electrical activity. One component of these long-term changes is the activity-driven induction of new gene expression, which is required for both the long-lasting long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission associated with learning and memory, and the activitydependent survival events that help to shape and wire the brain during development. We have characterized molecular mechanisms by which neuronal membrane depolarization and subsequent calcium influx into the cytoplasm lead to the induction of new gene transcription. We have identified three points within this cascade of events where the specificity of genes induced by different types of stimuli can be regulated. By using the induction of the gene that encodes brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a model, we have found that the ability of a calcium influx to induce transcription of this gene is regulated by the route of calcium entry into the cell, by the pattern of phosphorylation induced on the transcription factor cAMP-response element (CRE) binding protein (CREB), and by the complement of active transcription factors recruited to the BDNF promoter. These results refine and expand the working model of activity-induced gene induction in the brain, and help to explain how different types of neuronal stimuli can activate distinct transcriptional responses.

Eighth annual INTERMACS report: Special focus on framing the impact of adverse events.

Abstract: Background The Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) database now includes >20,000 patients from >180 hospitals. Methods The eighth annual report of INTERMACS updates the first decade of patient enrollment. Results In the current era, >95% of implants are continuous flow devices. Overall survival continues to remain >80% at 1 year and 70% at 2 years. Review of major adverse events shows minimal advantage for patients with ambulatory heart failure pre-implant. Stroke, major infection, and continued inotrope requirement during the first 3 months have a major effect on subsequent survival. Conclusions Greater application of durable devices to patients with ambulatory heart failure will mandate more effective neutralization or prevention of major adverse events.

p73-deficient mice have neurological, pheromonal and inflammatory defects but lack spontaneous tumours

Abstract: p73 (ref. 1) has high homology with the tumour suppressor p53 (refs 2,3,4), as well as with p63, a gene implicated in the maintenance of epithelial stem cells5,6,7. Despite the localization of the p73 gene to chromosome 1p36.3, a region of frequent aberration in a wide range of human cancers1, and the ability of p73 to transactivate p53 target genes1, it is unclear whether p73 functions as a tumour suppressor. Here we show that mice functionally deficient for all p73 isoforms exhibit profound defects, including hippocampal dysgenesis, hydrocephalus, chronic infections and inflammation, as well as abnormalities in pheromone sensory pathways. In contrast to p53-deficient mice, however, those lacking p73 show no increased susceptibility to spontaneous tumorigenesis. We report the mechanistic basis of the hippocampal dysgenesis and the loss of pheromone responses, and show that new, potentially dominant-negative, p73 variants are the predominant expression products of this gene in developing and adult tissues. Our data suggest that there is a marked divergence in the physiological functions of the p53 family members, and reveal unique roles for p73 in neurogenesis, sensory pathways and homeostatic control.