title: Angiopoietin-like protein 2, a chronic inflammatory mediator, is a new target induced by TGF-β1 through a Smad3-dependent mechanism

authors: Lee, Hee Jae

subjects: Angptl2

abstract: Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) levels are increased by obesity and obesity-related pathological conditions, and it is considered to be an important adipocyte-derived inflammatory mediator. In contrast, the multifunctional cytokine TGF-β1 has been reported to be augmented in obesity of rodents and humans, but inhibits adipocyte differentiation in vitro. Here we demonstrate that TGF-β1 induces expression of the Angptl2 gene through a Smad3-dependent pathway in RAW264.7 macrophage cells, primary peritoneal macrophages, and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Transcriptional induction of the Angptl2 gene by TGF-β1 was dependent on the Smad3 protein which binds to the Smad Binding Element (SBE) region located on the Angptl2 promoter. Macrophages with Smad3 knocked down by small interfering RNA showed reduction of TGF-β1-induced Angptl2 expression. These findings may provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of the increased expression of Angptl2 and TGF-β1 in obesity.

text: Angiopoietin-like protein 2, a chronic inflammatory mediator, is a new target induced by TGF-β1 through a Smad3-dependent mechanism Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) levels are increased by obesity and obesity-related pathological conditions, and it is considered to be an important adipocyte-derived inflammatory mediator. In contrast, the multifunctional cytokine TGF-β1 has been reported to be augmented in obesity of rodents and humans, but inhibits adipocyte differentiation in vitro. Here we demonstrate that TGF-β1 induces expression of the Angptl2 gene through a Smad3-dependent pathway in RAW264.7 macrophage cells, primary peritoneal macrophages, and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Transcriptional induction of the Angptl2 gene by TGF-β1 was dependent on the Smad3 protein which binds to the Smad Binding Element (SBE) region located on the Angptl2 promoter. Macrophages with Smad3 knocked down by small interfering RNA showed reduction of TGF-β1-induced Angptl2 expression. These findings may provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of the increased expression of Angptl2 and TGF-β1 in obesity.

year: 2013

title: Genetic diversity among populations of Antarctic springtails (Collembola) within the Mackay Glacier ecotone

authors: Beet, Clare Rose

abstract: Climate changes are likely to have major influences on the distribution and abundance of Antarctic terrestrial biota. To assess arthropod distribution and diversity within the Ross Sea region, we examined mitochondrial DNA (COI) sequences for three currently recognized species of springtail (Collembola) collected from sites in the vicinity, and to the north of, the Mackay Glacier (77°S). This area acts as a transition between two biogeographic regions (northern and southern Victoria Land). We found populations of highly divergent individuals (5%–11.3% intraspecific sequence divergence) for each of the three putative springtail species, suggesting the possibility of cryptic diversity. Based on molecular clock estimates, these divergent lineages are likely to have been isolated for 3–5 million years. It was during this time that the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) was likely to have completely collapsed, potentially facilitating springtail dispersal via rafting on running waters and open seaways. The reformation of the WAIS would have isolated newly established populations, with subsequent dispersal restricted by glaciers and ice-covered areas. Given the currently limited distributions for these genetically divergent populations, any future changes in species’ distributions can be easily tracked through the DNA barcoding of springtails from within the Mackay Glacier ecotone.

text: Genetic diversity among populations of Antarctic springtails (Collembola) within the Mackay Glacier ecotone Climate changes are likely to have major influences on the distribution and abundance of Antarctic terrestrial biota. To assess arthropod distribution and diversity within the Ross Sea region, we examined mitochondrial DNA (COI) sequences for three currently recognized species of springtail (Collembola) collected from sites in the vicinity, and to the north of, the Mackay Glacier (77°S). This area acts as a transition between two biogeographic regions (northern and southern Victoria Land). We found populations of highly divergent individuals (5%–11.3% intraspecific sequence divergence) for each of the three putative springtail species, suggesting the possibility of cryptic diversity. Based on molecular clock estimates, these divergent lineages are likely to have been isolated for 3–5 million years. It was during this time that the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) was likely to have completely collapsed, potentially facilitating springtail dispersal via rafting on running waters and open seaways. The reformation of the WAIS would have isolated newly established populations, with subsequent dispersal restricted by glaciers and ice-covered areas. Given the currently limited distributions for these genetically divergent populations, any future changes in species’ distributions can be easily tracked through the DNA barcoding of springtails from within the Mackay Glacier ecotone.

year: 2016

title: ‘Doctoring’ our own: Confessions of a Māori doctoral supervisor

authors: Hohepa, Margie Kahukura

subjects: Māori doctoral student

abstract: There is very little literature, empirically based or otherwise, on the supervision of Māori doctoral students (Fitzgerald, 2005; Pope, 2008; Kidman, 2007; Smith, 2007). There is even less relating to Māori supervisors working with Māori doctoral students (Kidinan, 2007), let alone Māori supervisors working with non- Māori students. While the relatively large corpus of literature on doctoral supervision may be of some assistance to Māori supervisors, there is also a dearth of studies that focus on the pedagogical aspects. Research undertaken by Elizabeth McKinley and her co-researchers (McKinley, Grant, Middleton, Irwin & Williams, 2009) will now help to fill the literature gap on the teaching and learning process of supervision as it pertains to Māori.

text: ‘Doctoring’ our own: Confessions of a Māori doctoral supervisor There is very little literature, empirically based or otherwise, on the supervision of Māori doctoral students (Fitzgerald, 2005; Pope, 2008; Kidman, 2007; Smith, 2007). There is even less relating to Māori supervisors working with Māori doctoral students (Kidinan, 2007), let alone Māori supervisors working with non- Māori students. While the relatively large corpus of literature on doctoral supervision may be of some assistance to Māori supervisors, there is also a dearth of studies that focus on the pedagogical aspects. Research undertaken by Elizabeth McKinley and her co-researchers (McKinley, Grant, Middleton, Irwin & Williams, 2009) will now help to fill the literature gap on the teaching and learning process of supervision as it pertains to Māori.

year: 2010