Search results for "Growth factors"

Physico-chemical and mechanical characterization of in-situ forming xyloglucan gels incorporating a growth factor to promote cartilage reconstruction

2016

Abstract The development of growth factors is very promising in the field of tissue regeneration but specifically designed formulations have to be developed in order to enable such new biological entities (NBEs). In particular, the range of therapeutic concentrations is usually very low compared to other active proteins and the confinement in the target site can be of crucial importance. In-situ forming scaffolds are very promising solutions for minimally invasive intervention in cartilage reconstruction and targeting of NBEs. In this work injectable, in-situ forming gels of a temperature responsive partially degalactosylated xyloglucan (Deg-XG) incorporating the growth factor FGF-18 are fo…

Cytokines and Neurotrophins Interact in Normal and Diseased States

2006

Neurotrophins (NTs) such as nerve growth factor (NGF) as well as cytokines, for example, interleukin-6 (IL-6), are communicators between the nervous and immune systems. There is evidence for mutual interactions between NTs and cytokines. Strategies are being developed to elucidate the molecular mechanism/s of interactions and to understand how cytokines are involved in health and disease. Analysis of underlying signaling pathways in glial cells indicates that different transcription factors, such as NF-kappa B, cAMP-responsive-element binding protein (CREB), and activator protein 1 (AP-1), are involved in NT induction. IL-6 and NTs of the NGF family are coexpressed at sites of nerve injury.…

Perlecan Maintains microvessel integrity in vivo and modulates their formation in vitro

2012

Perlecan is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan assembled into the vascular basement membranes (BMs) during vasculogenesis. In the present study we have investigated vessel formation in mice, teratomas and embryoid bodies (EBs) in the absence of perlecan. We found that perlecan was dispensable for blood vessel formation and maturation until embryonic day (E) 12.5. At later stages of development 40% of mutant embryos showed dilated microvessels in brain and skin, which ruptured and led to severe bleedings. Surprisingly, teratomas derived from perlecan-null ES cells showed efficient contribution of perlecan-deficient endothelial cells to an apparently normal tumor vasculature. However, in perlecan…

Modulation of NMDA receptor function by cyclic AMP in cerebellar neurones in culture

2004

The signal transduction pathways involved in NMDA receptor modulation by other receptors remain unclear. cAMP could be involved in this modulation. The aim of this work was to analyse the contribution of cAMP to NMDA receptor modulation in cerebellar neurones in culture. Forskolin increases cAMP and results in increased intracellular calcium and cGMP that are prevented by blocking NMDA receptors. Similar effects were induced by two cAMP analogues, indicating that cAMP leads to NMDA receptor activation. It has been reported that phosphorylation of Ser897 of the NR1 subunit of NMDA receptors by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activates the receptors. Forskolin increases Ser897 phosphoryla…

2018

Oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPV) are small DNA viruses that infect keratinocytes. After HPV binding to cell surface receptors, a cascade of molecular interactions mediates the infectious cellular internalization of virus particles. Aside from the virus itself, important molecular players involved in virus entry include the tetraspanin CD151 and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). To date, it is unknown how these components are coordinated in space and time. Here, we studied plasma membrane dynamics of CD151 and EGFR and the HPV16 capsid during the early phase of infection. We find that the proteinase ADAM17 activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) pathway…

Effect of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on Hormones of Energy Balance in a TCDD-Sensitive and a TCDD-Resistant Rat Strain

2014

One of the hallmarks of the acute toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a drastically reduced feed intake by an unknown mechanism. To further elucidate this wasting syndrome, we followed the effects of a single large dose (100 μg/kg) of TCDD on the serum levels of several energy balance-influencing hormones, clinical chemistry variables, and hepatic aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) expression in two rat strains that differ widely in their TCDD sensitivities, for up to 10 days. TCDD affected most of the analytes in sensitive Long-Evans rats, while there were few alterations in the resistant Han/Wistar strain. However, analyses of feed-restricted unexposed Long-Evans rats i…

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Limits Lipotoxicity by Promoting Hepatic Fatty Acid Activation in Mice on Methionine and Choline-Deficient Diets

2014

Background & Aims Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common consequence of human and rodent obesity. Disruptions in lipid metabolism lead to accumulation of triglycerides and fatty acids, which can promote inflammation and fibrosis and lead to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Circulating levels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)21 increase in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; therefore, we assessed the role of FGF21 in the progression of murine fatty liver disease, independent of obesity, caused by methionine and choline deficiency. Methods C57BL/6 wild-type and FGF21-knockout (FGF21-KO) mice were placed on methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD)…

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) Protects against High Fat Diet Induced Inflammation and Islet Hyperplasia in Pancreas

2015

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an important endocrine metabolic regulator expressed in multiple tissues including liver and adipose tissue. Although highest levels of expression are in pancreas, little is known about the function of FGF21 in this tissue. In order to understand the physiology of FGF21 in the pancreas, we analyzed its expression and regulation in both acinar and islet tissues. We found that acinar tissue express 20-fold higher levels than that observed in islets. We also observed that pancreatic FGF21 is nutritionally regulated; a marked reduction in FGF21 expression was noted with fasting while obesity is associated with 3–4 fold higher expression. Acinar and islet c…

Relationships of growth factors, proinflammatory cytokines, and anti-inflammatory cytokines with long-term clinical results of autologous bone marrow…

2017

Aim The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis suggesting that the pre-intervention levels of proinflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and angiogenic growth factors predict the long-term clinical results of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell (ABMMC) transplantation in patients with primary ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods and results From 2003 to 2006, a total of 62 patients with primary STEMI were enrolled in an open randomized study registered under the title ESTABOMA. Patients were randomized into two groups: group 1 included patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and ABMMC transplantation (n = 28); group 2 compr…

Lean NAFLD: A Distinct Entity Shaped by Differential Metabolic Adaptation

2020

Background and Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects a quarter of the adult population. A significant subset of patients are lean, but their underlying pathophysiology is not well understood. Approach and Results: We investigated the role of bile acids (BAs) and the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of lean NAFLD. BA and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 levels (a surrogate for intestinal farnesoid X receptor [FXR] activity), patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3), and transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) variants, and gut microbiota profiles in lean and nonlean NAFLD were investigated in a cohort of Caucasian patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n …