Researchers untangle molecular pathology of giant axonal neuropathy
Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) is a rare genetic disorder that causes central and peripheral nervous system dysfunction. GAN is known to be caused by mutations in the gigaxonin gene and is characterized by tangling and aggregation of neural projections, but the mechanistic link between the genetic mutation and the effects on neurons is unclear. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Robert Goldman and colleagues at Northwestern University uncover how mutations in gigaxonin contribute to neural aggregation.They demonstrated that gigaxonin regulates the degradation of neurofilament proteins, which help to guide outgrowth and morphology of neural projections. Loss of gigaxonin in either GAN patient cells or transgenic mice increased levels of neurofilament proteins, causing tangling and aggregation of neural projections. Importantly, expression of gigaxonin allowed for clearance of neurofilament proteins in neurons. These findings demonstrate that mutations in gigaxonin cause accumulation of neurofilament proteins and shed light on the molecular pathology of GAN.
TITLE: Giant axonal neuropathy-assoicated gigaxonin mutations impair intermediate filament protein degradation
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Robert Goldman
Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: 312-503-4215; E-mail: r-goldman@northwestern.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/66387?key=fbb27aa987681b6b9d6a
Resistance is futile: researchers identify gene that mediates cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer
Platinum compounds, such as cisplatin and carboplatin, induce DNA cross-linking, prohibiting DNA synthesis and repair in rapidly dividing cells. They are first line therapeutics in the treatment of many solid tumors, but cancer cells frequently develop resistance to these drugs. Mechanisms of resistance typically include reduced platinum uptake and increased platinum export. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Anil Sood and colleagues at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center identified a cellular membrane protein, ATP11B, that mediates cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells. They found that ATP11B expression was correlated with higher tumor grade in human ovarian cancer samples and with cisplatin-resistance in human ovarian cancer cell lines. Further, loss of ATP11B restored the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cell lines to cisplatin and reduced ovarian tumor growth in mice. These findings suggest that ATP11B could serve as a therapeutic target to overcome cisplatin resistance.
TITLE: ATP11B mediates platinum resistance in ovarian cancer
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Anil Sood
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Phone: 713-745-5266; Fax: 713-792-7586; E-mail: asood@mdanderson.org
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/65425?key=1b568a84b2ed6f3104ee
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
TITLE: RNA binding protein PCBP2 modulates glioma growth by regulating FHL3
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Xiaozhong Peng
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences & School of Basic Medicine,Chinese Acad, Beijing, CHN
Phone: 0086-010-65296434; E-mail: peng_xiaozhong@163.com
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/61820?key=1198455a7ca0e03c53ba
TITLE: IL-33 dependent induction of allergic lung inflammation by FcγRIII signaling
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Anne Sperling
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: 773-834-1211; Fax: 773-702-4736; E-mail: asperlin@uchicago.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/63802?key=032761d160603a5e9093
TITLE: WNT signaling underlies the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain in rats
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Xue-Jun Song
Parker University Research Institue, Dallas, , USA
Phone: 9734386932 EXT 7144
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/65364?key=b983094cb01c7ee80e34
TITLE: Defective telomere elongation and hematopoiesis from telomerase-mutant aplastic anemia iPSCs
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Cynthia E. Dunbar
NIH, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
Phone: 301 496 1434; Fax: 301-496-8396
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/67146?key=2d1d1346d4a5bb96bb80
TITLE: Opposing chemokine gradients control human thymocyte migration in situ
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Ellen Robey
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
Phone: 510-642-8669
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/67175?key=ea0f0474c71bcec79110
TITLE: GM-CSF contributes to aortic aneurysms resulting from SMAD3 deficiency
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Jiahong Xia
Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and, Wuhan, CHN
Phone: 0086-13971038472; Fax: 0086-27- 85726337; E-mail: jiahong.xia@mail.hust.edu.cn
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/67356?key=481605675f72b402a894
TITLE: Mer receptor tyrosine kinase is a novel therapeutic target in melanoma
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Douglas Graham
Univ of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
Phone: 303-724-4006; Fax: 303-724-4015; E-mail: doug.graham@ucdenver.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/67816?key=c3beb1f407a41392c648
Journal
Journal of Clinical Investigation