This Takes Guts
These finger-like projections increase the surface area of enterocytes, aiding in nutrient absorption. They are shortened and blunted in many gut inflammatory diseases.
What are villi?
Enteric glia produce this protein that promotes peristalsis. In NEC, numbers of glia cells are reduced, which directly contributes to NEC development.
What is brain-derived neurotrophic factor?
What is flu?
In the Kovler paper, expression levels of this cytokine were shown to decrease when NEC mice were treated with a molecule that promotes peristalsis.
What is TNF-alpha?
In response to DNA damage, ATM phosphorylates this master tumor suppressor, which then disassociates from Mdm2 and stops the cell cycle.
What is p53?
These epithelial cells secrete antimicrobial peptides, which are part of the gut's innate immune defenses.
What are Paneth cells?
Excessive stimulation of this Toll-like receptor can lead to apoptosis of enterocytes, a key feature of NEC. Epidermal growth factor in breast milk can block this effect.
What is TLR4?
During this infectious disease, hemagglutinin on the pathogen binds to its receptor on the host cell.
What is flu?
DAILY DOUBLE
This enzyme extends telomeres and therefore gives cancer cells limitless replicative potential.
What is telomerase?
This is the primary antibody isotype found in the gut. It can bind to and neutralize bacteria in the lumen, preventing them from invading into the lamina propria.
What is IgA?
This enzyme removes an amide group from the glutamine residues in gliadin, making gliadin antigens easier to present by HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8.
What is TG2?
During this infectious disease, there is a transition from OspA to OspC on the surface of the pathogen.
What is Lyme disease?
In the Brandi paper, treating mice with MV130 resulted in epigenetic changes that allowed expression of this cytokine to be increased in MPPs.
What is TNF-alpha?
Cancer cells secrete this protein that binds to endothelial cells and promotes angiogenesis.
What is VEGF?
These epithelial cells secrete mucus, which is a sticky substance that coats the epithelial layer and traps bacteria before they can contact the epithelium.
What are Goblet cells?
During Celiac disease, this receptor on intraepithelial lymphocytes binds to MICA on epithelial cells, contributing to epithelial cell death.
What is NKG2D?
During this infectious disease, the pathogen binds to a host cell surface receptor called ACE2.
What is COVID-19?
In Crohn's disease, this integrin on T cells allows T cells to enter the gut and contribute to inflammation.
What is alpha4beta7?
This protein on the surface of mitochondria keeps cytochrome c within the mitochondria. If released into the cytoplasm, cytochrome c can induce apoptosis.
What is Bcl-2?
Among the functions of the ileum is to absorb this vitamin involved in DNA/RNA synthesis, neuron function, and red blood cell formation.
What is B12?
A loss-of-function mutation in this cytoplasmic microbial sensor contributes to Crohn's disease by compromising the function of Paneth cells.
During this infectious disease, flagella from the pathogen binds to TLR5.
What is Lyme disease?
In Crohn's disease, overexpression of the IL-23 receptor on Th17 cells can cause the cells to become a pathogenic Th17/Th1 hybrid that secretes this cytokine.
What is interferon gamma?
In response to a growth factor binding to its receptor, this protein becomes activated due to the exchange of GDP for GTP and phosphorylates Raf. In many cancers, a single amino acid substitution in the protein leaves it permanently active.
What is Ras?