1,326 publications from this institution
Summary The gene encoding murine coagulation factor VII (fVII) has been cloned. Seven introns and eight exons are present, with the introns positioned as splice junctions between the major domain units of the protein. A total of 11,748 bp of the gene was sequenced, and included 1,077 bp of a 5’-flanking region, in which several high probability binding sites for liver transcription factors were present, as well as a CCAAT sequence and possible GC boxes. Primer extension analysis revealed that the major transcription start site was positioned only 9 residues upstream of the ATG initiation codon, thus providing a very short 5’-untranslated region of the gene. The sequence of the CAP site in the murine fVII gene matched exactly the consensus eukaryotic sequence. A total of 1,484 bp of 3’-flanking nucleotides included a probable polyadenylation site (ATTAAA) and an appropriately positioned downstream consensus sequence (AGTGTTTC) for the efficient formation of a 3’ terminus of mRNA. These results indicate that all elements are present for liver-based transcription of the gene for murine factor VII. The sequence and restriction endonuclease map of this gene will facilitate construction of fVII deficient mice and mice containing mutant fVII genes.
VEGF has been proposed to participate in normal and pathological vessel formation. Surprisingly, lack of only a single VEGF allele resulted in embryonic lethality due to abnormal formation of intra- and extra-embryonic vessels. Homozygous VEGF-deficient embryos, generated by tetraploid aggregation, revealed an even more severe defect in vessel formation. These results (1) suggest a tight regulation of early vessel development by VEGF and, indirectly, the presence of other VEGF-like molecules; (2) reveal an unprecedented lethal phenotype associated with heterozygous deficiency of an autosomal gene, and (3) demonstrate that tetraploid aggregation was a valid and the only method to study the phenotype of the homozyogous VEGF-deficient embryos. The dominant and strict dose-dependent role of VEGF in vivo renders this molecule a desirable therapeutic target for promoting or preventing angiogenesis. Tissue factor (TF) is the principal cellular initiator of coagulation and its deregulated expression has been related to thrombogenesis in sepsis, cancer, and inflammation. However, TF appears to be also involved in a variety of non-hemostatic functions including inflammation, cancer, brain function, immune response, and tumor-associated angiogenesis. Surprisingly, TF deficiency resulted in embryonic lethality due to abnormal extra-embryonic vessel development and defective vitelloembryonic circulation. The abnormal yolk sac vasculature is reminiscent of that observed in embryos lacking VEGF, possibly suggesting that both gene functions are interconnected. These targeting studies extend the recently documented role of TF in tumor-associated angiogenesis and warrant further study of its role in angiogenesis during other pathological disorders. The plasminogen system, via its triggers, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and its inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), has been implicated in thrombosis, arterial neointima formation, and atherosclerosis. Studies in mice with targeted gene inactivation of t-PA, u-PA, PAI-1, the urokinase receptor (u-PAR), and plasminogen (Plg) revealed (1) that deficiency of t-PA or u-PA increase the susceptibility to thrombosis associated with inflammation and that combined deficiency of t-PA:u-PA or deficiency of Plg induces severe spontaneous thrombosis; (2) that vascular injury-induced neointima formation is reduced in mice lacking u-PA-mediated plasmin proteolysis, unaltered in t-PA- or u-PAR-deficient mice and accelerated in PAI-1-deficient mice, but that it can be reverted by adenoviral PAI-1 gene transfer; and (3) that atherosclerosis in mice doubly deficient in apolipoprotein E (apoE) and PAI-1 is reduced after 10 weeks of cholesterol-rich diet. Thus, the plasminogen system significantly affects thrombosis, restenosis, and atherosclerosis.
Notwithstanding these important unresolved questions, the Zhu et al. ( 5) study should open up a new area of investigation as additional studies probe the connections between β 1 -adrenergic receptor-mediated signaling and CaMKII-dependent effects.If future studies support the proposal by Zhu et al., that one of the consequences of prolonged β 1 -adrenergic receptor stimulation is cardiomyocyte cell death via a CaMKII-mediated pathway, it will indeed be an important contribution to our understanding of the pathogenesis of heart failure that will suggest novel therapeutic targets.1.
