Kettering University

About: Kettering University is a education organization based out in Flint, Michigan, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: RNA & Antigen. The organization has 6842 authors who have published 7689 publications receiving 337503 citations. The organization is also known as: GMI Engineering & Management Institute & General Motors Institute.

Primary Cilia Are Not Required for Normal Canonical Wnt Signaling in the Mouse Embryo

Abstract: Background Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in the mouse requires the microtubule-based organelle, the primary cilium. The primary cilium is assembled and maintained through the process of intraflagellar transport (IFT) and the response to Shh is blocked in mouse mutants that lack proteins required for IFT. Although the phenotypes of mouse IFT mutants do not overlap with phenotypes of known Wnt pathway mutants, recent studies report data suggesting that the primary cilium modulates responses to Wnt signals. Methodology/Principal Findings We therefore carried out a systematic analysis of canonical Wnt signaling in mutant embryos and cells that lack primary cilia because of loss of the anterograde IFT kinesin-II motor (Kif3a) or IFT complex B proteins (Ift172 or Ift88). We also analyzed mutant embryos with abnormal primary cilia due to defects in retrograde IFT (Dync2h1). The mouse IFT mutants express the canonical Wnt target Axin2 and activate a transgenic canonical Wnt reporter, BAT-gal, in the normal spatial pattern and to the same quantitative level as wild type littermates. Similarly, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from IFT mutants respond normally to added Wnt3a. The switch from canonical to non-canonical Wnt also appears normal in IFT mutant MEFs, as both wild-type and mutant cells do not activate the canonical Wnt reporter in the presence of both Wnt3a and Wnt5a. Conclusions We conclude that loss of primary cilia or defects in retrograde IFT do not affect the response of the midgestation embryo or embryo-derived fibroblasts to Wnt ligands.

Thyroid-androgen interrelations and the hypocholesteremic effect of androsterone.

Abstract: Myxedema is associated with a profound change in the metabolism of androgen. Endogenous production of androsterpne was very low in 6 myxedematous patients, and a much smaller fraction of exogenous testosterone-4-C14 was converted to androsterone than in euthyroid subjects. In 1 hyperthyroid patient studied the reverse was observed, in that endogenous androsterone production was elevated. Administration of triiodothyronine to myxedematous patients altered this defect in metabolism and restored an essentially normal metabolic pattern for both endogenous and exogenous androgen. Administration of triiodothyronine to euthyroid subjects produced a similar change in endogenous and exogenous androgen metabolism, in that androsterone production was materially increased. From these results the hypothesis was made that some of the peripheral manifestations of excess or deficit of thyroid hormone might be mediated by the metabolites of steroid androgens. In confirmation, it was found that androsterone caused...

Granular Cell Tumor of the Breast: A Series of 17 Cases and Review of the Literature

Abstract: Seventeen cases of granular cell tumor (GCT) of the breast are reviewed. The demographics and clinical features are reviewed and the radiologic and pathologic features as well as the immunohistochemistry are discussed. To our knowledge, our series of 17 breast GCT cases represent the largest series published to date.