@article{meng_tompkins_miller_fogle_2014, title={Lentivirus-Activated T Regulatory Cells Suppress T Helper Cell Interleukin-2 Production by Inhibiting Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells 2 Binding to the Interleukin-2 Promoter}, volume={30}, ISSN={["1931-8405"]}, DOI={10.1089/aid.2013.0062}, abstractNote={Using the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) model for AIDS lentivirus infection, we previously demonstrated that Treg cells from FIV-infected cats up-regulate membrane-associated tumor growth factor beta (mTGF-ß) during the course of infection and that activated T lymphocytes up-regulate TGF-ß receptor II (TGF-ßRII) during the course of infection. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that autologous coculture of Tregs with Th cells from FIV-infected cats leads to suppression of interleukin (IL)-2 production and loss of proliferation in a TGF-ß-dependent fashion. Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) 2 has been identified as integral to effector Th cell maturation and function by promoting IL-2 transcription. Therefore, we questioned whether NFAT2 expression might be altered by TGF-β signaling. Feline NFAT2 exon sequences were identified based upon sequence homology to human and murine NFAT2. Following stimulation, IL-2 and NFAT2 mRNA levels were similarly increased in both FIV(-) and FIV(+) cats. Activated CD4(+)CD25(-) cells from both FIV(-) and FIV(+) cats cocultured with autologous CD4(+)CD25(+) cells or treated with TGF-β demonstrated decreased IL-2 production; however, NFAT2 mRNA levels were unaffected. Although NFAT2 mRNA levels were unaffected, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) for NFAT2 indicated decreased NFAT2 binding at the IL-2 promoter in suppressed Th cells. These data suggest that TGF-β-mediated Treg cell suppression of IL-2 transcription is modulated through alterations in NFAT2 binding to the IL-2 promoter.}, number={1}, journal={AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES}, author={Meng, Liping and Tompkins, Mary and Miller, Michelle and Fogle, Jonathan}, year={2014}, month={Jan}, pages={58–66} }
 @article{meng_markert_1993, title={The effects of the nucleocytoplasmic ratio and the state of nuclear and cytoplasmic differentiation on the development of cloned and recloned embryos of mice}, volume={39}, DOI={10.1262/jrd.39.175}, abstractNote={Nucleocytoplasmic interactions in controlling mouse embryonic development were tested by transplanting nuclei into different cytoplasmic environments. The nucleocytoplasmic ratios in 2-and 4-cell stage embryo were altered by removing one nucleus from a fused 2-cell and three nuclei from a fused 4-cell embryo. Such embryos containing relatively increased amounts of cytoplasm develop normally but at a slower rate than control embryos.The effects of transplanting 4-cell donor nuclei to the cytoplasm of an enucleated fused 2-cell embryo led to successful in vitro development and also to term in six out of 67 reconstituted embryos. When the donor nucleus was from an 8-cell embryo, successful development in vitro was less frequent and none were carried to term. Cytoplasms from the 2-cell and 4-cell embryos were very similar in affecting further development, but cytoplasms of the oocyte failed to provide a suitable environment for further development. Most of the reconstituted embryos containing a nucleus from an 8-cell embryo and cytoplasms of 2 or 4-cell embryos compacted at the subsequent 4 cell or even at the 2-cell stage of development. Thus, an 8-cell nucleus produced compaction in cytoplasms from an earlier stage.To test for reprogramming of nuclei transferred into the cytoplasms of an earlier stage of development, the nuclei from 4-cell stage reconstituted embryos were transferred into the cytoplasms of 2-cell embryos. Of the 53 recloned embryos 36(67.9%), 15(28.3%), and 1(1.7%) developed to the 2-, 4-, and 8-cell stages, respectively. The percent cleavage of recloned 4-cell stage nuclei was much lower than in the original reconstituted embryos. However no significant difference in frequency of cleavage was found between recloned embryos and reconstituted embryos with nuclei obtained from the normal morula stage. Forty-one of the recloned embryos were transferred to the oviducts of recipient mice. Of these, 17 were recovered from the oviducts after 72 h and five then continued to develop in vitro to the morula stage. These results suggest that embryonic nuclei are not reprogrammed, even by retransfer into less differentiated cytoplasms obtained from enucleated, fused 2-cell embryos.}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Reproduction and Development}, author={Meng, L. and Markert, C. L.}, year={1993}, pages={175} }