Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 15, 2025
07:18
Author Spotlight: Manipulating Signaling in Zebrafish Embryos to Decode Cell Fate Decisions
Published on: October 27, 2023
3.1K
Genetics and Signaling Pathways of Laminitis
Hannah Galantino-Homer1, Samantha A Brooks2
1Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Equine Practice
|July 14, 2020
Summary
Laminitis, a severe equine disease, involves complex molecular pathways. Recent genomic studies offer new insights into its pathogenesis, potentially revealing novel therapeutic targets for future clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Equine medicine
- Molecular biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Laminitis is a significant cause of suffering and economic loss in horses.
- Diverse triggers lead to laminitis, yet effective treatments remain limited.
- Understanding the molecular underpinnings is crucial for developing therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize current genomic and gene expression findings in laminitis.
- To propose a unifying model of laminitis pathogenesis.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets based on molecular pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing gene expression and genomic studies.
- Analysis of data from experimental and naturally occurring laminitis cases.
- Comparative analysis with pathogenesis of epidermal and epithelial diseases.
Main Results:
- Genomic studies have identified key molecular players at critical laminitis stages.
- A unifying model highlights shared pathogenesis concepts with other epithelial diseases.
- Several novel molecular pathways have emerged as potential therapeutic targets.
Conclusions:
- Laminitis pathogenesis involves complex, conserved molecular mechanisms.
- Identified pathways offer promising avenues for future therapeutic development.
- Further research and clinical trials are necessary to validate these targets.
Related Concept Videos
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
6.1K
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
6.1K
02:33Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
9.5K
The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...
9.5K
01:41Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
8.1K
Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
8.1K
01:19Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
7.0K
Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
7.0K
02:54Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
10.2K
The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which...
10.2K
01:11IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway
13.9K
Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and...
13.9K