Human dental pulp cells (DPCs), which are known to contain a subset of stem cells capable of reforming a dentin and pulp-like complex upon in vivo transplantation, were isolated from third molars of three healthy donors and differentiated to a matrix mineralisation phenotype using by culture in dexamethasone and l-ascorbic acid. qRT-PCR analysis of insulin-like growth factor ( IGF) axis gene ex...

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is an important regulator of fetal growth and differentiation. IGF bioavailability is modulated by IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). We have generated six different antisera, directed to synthetic peptide fragments of mouse IGFBP-1 through -6. The specificity of the produced antisera was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting...

OBJECTIVES Coronary microembolisation in the pig heart induces angiogenesis in a model of sterile inflammation due to focal necrosis. We have recently shown in this model that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is involved in inflammation-linked angiogenic processes due to its enhanced transcription after 72 h of ischaemia by infiltrating monocytes in areas of microsphere-induced focal necros...

RATIONALE Related transcriptional enhancer factor-1 (RTEF-1) plays an important role in endothelial cell function by regulating angiogenesis; however, the mechanism underlying the role of RTEF-1 in the endothelium in vivo is not well defined. OBJECTIVE We investigated the biological functions of RTEF-1 by disrupting the gene that encodes it in mice endothelium -specific RTEF-1-deficient trans...

Negative energy balance (NEB) during early lactation in dairy cows leads to an altered metabolic state that has major effects on the production of IGF family members. Low IGF-I concentrations are associated with poor fertility and therefore we aimed to determine whether NEB exerts a direct effect on IGF expression in the postpartum oviduct. Multiparous Holstein cows were allocated to two treatm...

IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), an important regulator of IGF bioavailability, has been shown to correlate with mortality in critically ill patients. In the liver, IGFBP-1 is transcriptionally repressed by insulin, and it is therefore a potential marker of hepatic insulin sensitivity. We have recently shown that, compared with conventional treatment, maintenance of normoglycemia with intensive...

Tamoxifen (TAM) remains the adjuvant therapy of choice for pre-menopausal women with ERα-positive breast cancer. Resistance and recurrence remain, however, a major challenge with many women relapsing and subsequently dying. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis is involved in breast cancer pathogenesis and progression to endocrine resistant disease, but there is very little data on the expr...

BACKGROUND Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is a secreted protein that binds and regulates IGF actions in controlling growth, development, reproduction, and aging. Elevated expression of IGFBP-2 is often associated with progression of many types of cancers. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We report the identification and characterization of two IGFBP-2 genes in zebrafish ...

PTEN is an important tumor-suppressor gene associated with many cancers. Through expression profiling of glioblastoma tissue samples and prostate cancer xenografts, we identified a molecular signature for loss of the PTEN tumor suppressor in glioblastoma and prostate tumors. The PTEN signature consists of a minimum of nine genes, several of which are involved in various pathways already implica...