Search results for "growth"

Cyclic pentapeptide cRGDfK enhances the inhibitory effect of sunitinib on TGF-β1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human non-small cell…

2020

AbstractIn human lung cancer progression, the EMT process is characterized by the transformation of cancer cells into invasive forms that migrate to other organs. Targeting to EMT-related molecules is emerging as a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention of lung cancer cell migration and invasion. Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK) has recently been considered as an anti-proliferative target molecule to regulate the Wnt signaling pathway in several types of cancer cells. In the present study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib and the integrin-αVβ3targeted cyclic peptide (cRGDfK) on EMT in human lung cancer cells. Sunitinib strongly inhib…

Conversion of Nonproliferating Astrocytes into Neurogenic Neural Stem Cells: Control by FGF2 and Interferon-gamma

2016

Abstract Conversion of astrocytes to neurons, via de-differentiation to neural stem cells (NSC), may be a new approach to treat neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries. The signaling factors affecting such a cell conversion are poorly understood, and they are hard to identify in complex disease models or conventional cell cultures. To address this question, we developed a serum-free, strictly controlled culture system of pure and homogeneous “astrocytes generated from murine embryonic stem cells (ESC).” These stem cell derived astrocytes (mAGES), as well as standard primary astrocytes resumed proliferation upon addition of FGF. The signaling of FGF receptor tyrosine kinase converted G…

Alkaline phosphatase dual-binding sites for collagen dictate cell migration and microvessel assembly in vitro

2020

Interactions between cell types, growth factors, and extracellular matrix components involved in angiogenesis are crucial for new vessel formation leading to tissue regeneration. This study investigated whether cocultures of fibroblasts and endothelial cells (ECs; from macro- or microvasculature) play a role in the formation of microvessel-like structures by ECs, as well as modulate fibroblast differentiation and growth factors production (vascular endothelial cell growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, active transforming growth factor-beta 1, and interleukin-8), which are important for vessel sprouting and maturation. Data obtained revealed that in vitro coculture systems of fibro…

Thymus-derived regulatory T cells are positively selected on natural self-antigen through cognate interactions of high functional avidity

2016

Regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing Foxp3 transcripton factor are essential for immune homeostasis. They arise in the thymus as a separate lineage from conventional CD4+Foxp3- T (Tconv) cells. Here, we show that the thymic development of Treg cells depends on the expression of their endogenous cognate self-antigen. The formation of these cells was impaired in mice lacking this self-antigen, while Tconv cell development was not negatively affected. Thymus-derived Treg cells were selected by self-antigens in a specific manner, while autoreactive Tconv cells were produced through degenerate recognition of distinct antigens. These distinct modes of development were associated with the expressi…

Influence of different calcium phosphate ceramics on growth and differentiation of cells in osteoblast-endothelial co-cultures

2016

Strategies for improvement of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis using different cells and materials are paramount aims in the field of bone tissue engineering. Thereby, the interaction between different cell types and scaffold materials is crucial for growth, differentiation, and long-term outcomes of tissue-engineered constructs. In this study, we evaluated the interaction of osteoblasts and endothelial cells in three-dimensional tissue-engineered constructs using beta tricalciumphosphate (β-TCP, [s-Ca3 (PO4 )2 ]) and calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA, [Ca9 (PO4 )5 (HPO4 )OH]) ceramics as scaffolds. We focused on initial cell organization, cell proliferation, and differential expression…

Neurofibromatosis type 2 tumor suppressor protein is expressed in oligodendrocytes and regulates cell proliferation and process formation.

2017

The neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor protein Merlin functions as a negative regulator of cell growth and actin dynamics in different cell types amongst which Schwann cells have been extensively studied. In contrast, the presence and the role of Merlin in oligodendrocytes, the myelin forming cells within the CNS, have not been elucidated. In this work, we demonstrate that Merlin immunoreactivity was broadly distributed in the white matter throughout the central nervous system. Following Merlin expression during development in the cerebellum, Merlin could be detected in the cerebellar white matter tract at early postnatal stages as shown by its co-localization with Olig2-positi…

Chemical Composition, In Vitro Antitumor and Pro-Oxidant Activities of Glandora rosmarinifolia (Boraginaceae) Essential Oil

2018

The biological properties of essential oils have been demonstrated in the treatment of several diseases and to enhance the bioavailability of other drugs. In natural habitats the essential oils compounds may play important roles in the protection of the plants as antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals, insecticides and also against herbivores by reducing their appetite for such plants or by repelling undesirable others. We analyzed by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry the chemical composition of the essential oil of aerial parts of Glandora rosmarinifolia (Ten.) D.C. Thomas obtained by hydrodistillation and verified some biological activities on a panel of hepatocellular carcinoma cell …

2020

PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum is caused by mosaicism mutations in the PIK3CA gene. These mutations, which are also observed in various types of cancer, lead to a constitutive activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, increasing cell proliferation. Heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) is the major stress-responsive transcription factor. Recent findings indicate that AKT phosphorylates and activates HSF1 independently of heat-shock in breast cancer cells. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of HSF1 in PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum. We observed a higher rate of proliferation and increased phosphorylation of AKT and p70S6K in mutant fibroblasts than in control cells. We also fou…

Copper/MYC/CTR1 interplay: A dangerous relationship in hepatocellular carcinoma

2018

Free serum copper correlates with tumor incidence and progression of human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Copper extracellular uptake is provided by the transporter CTR1, whose expression is regulated to avoid excessive intracellular copper entry. Inadequate copper serum concentration is involved in the pathogenesis of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which is becoming a major cause of liver damage progression and HCC incidence. Finally, MYC is over-expressed in most of HCCs and is a critical regulator of cellular growth, tumor invasion and metastasis. The purpose of our study was to understand if higher serum copper concentrations might be involved in the prog…

Synaptic Phospholipid Signaling Modulates Axon Outgrowth via Glutamate-dependent Ca2+-mediated Molecular Pathways.

2015

Abstract Altered synaptic bioactive lipid signaling has been recently shown to augment neuronal excitation in the hippocampus of adult animals by activation of presynaptic LPA2-receptors leading to increased presynaptic glutamate release. Here, we show that this results in higher postsynaptic Ca2+ levels and in premature onset of spontaneous neuronal activity in the developing entorhinal cortex. Interestingly, increased synchronized neuronal activity led to reduced axon growth velocity of entorhinal neurons which project via the perforant path to the hippocampus. This was due to Ca2+-dependent molecular signaling to the axon affecting stabilization of the actin cytoskeleton. The spontaneous…