CEACAMs: their role in physiology and pathophysiology

CEACAMs: their role in physiology and pathophysiology.

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) belong to a group of mammalian immunoglobulin-related glycoproteins. They are involved in cell-cell recognition and modulate cellular processes that range from the shaping of tissue architecture and neovascularization to the regulation of insulin homeostasis and T-cell proliferation. CEACAMs have also been identified as receptor...

The role of peripheral nerve fibers and their neurotransmitters in cartilage and bone physiology and pathophysiology

The peripheral nervous system is critically involved in bone metabolism, osteogenesis, and bone remodeling. Nerve fibers of sympathetic and sensory origin innervate synovial tissue and subchondral bone of diathrodial joints. They modulate vascularization and matrix differentiation during endochondral ossification in embryonic limb development, indicating a distinct role in skeletal growth and l...

Purinoceptors and their Role in Pathophysiology

The extracellular nucleotides ATP, ADP, UTP and UDP are important for vascular regulation. They stimulate vasoconstriction, vasodilatation by release of prostaglandins, NO and EDHF, are involved in shear stress, are growth factors for vascular smooth muscle cells, stimulate platelet aggregation, tPA and PAI-1 release. The effects are mediated by P2 receptors with at least 13 subtypes. The physi...

Contents I Physiology and Pathophysiology of Proteases and Their Inhibitors

The role of leptin in human physiology and pathophysiology.

This review focuses on current knowledge of leptin biology and the role of leptin in various physiological and pathophysiological states. Leptin is involved in the regulation of body weight. Serum leptin can probably be considered as one of the best biological markers reflecting total body fat in both animals and humans. Obesity in man is accompanied by increased circulating leptin concentratio...