Abnormal patterns of DNA methylation are observed in several types of human cancer. While localized DNA methylation of CpG islands has been associated with gene silencing, the effect that genome-wide loss of methylation has on tumorigenesis is not completely known. To examine its effect on tumorigenesis, we induced DNA demethylation in a rat model of human chondrosarcoma using 5-aza-2-deoxycyti...

The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains to be elucidated and there is no curative therapy against MS, though we have several disease modifying drugs. In this symposium. I introduce several new strategies against development of autoimmune processes and axonal degeneration in MS. Several mechanisms regulate immune system not to attack self components. One of the most potent regulatory...

PURPOSE Midkine (MK) is a member of a family of heparin-binding growth factors, which was reported to have an important role in angiogenesis. Although MK was reported to be associated with bladder cancer progression, the functional significance of MK expression in bladder cancer progression has not been elucidated. The objectives of this study were to determine whether overexpression of MK in b...

Midkine is a pleiotropic factor, which is involved in angiogenesis. However, its mode of action in this process is still ill defined. The function of midkine in arteriogenesis, the growth of natural bypasses from pre-existing collateral arteries, compensating for the loss of an occluded artery has never been investigated. Arteriogenesis is an inflammatory process, which relies on the proliferat...

Several growth factors are effective for salvaging myocardium and limiting infarct size in experimental studies with small animals. Their benefit in large animals and feasibility in clinical practice remains to be elucidated. We investigated the cardioprotective effect of midkine (MK) in swine subjected to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). I/R was created by left anterior descending coronary artery o...

Injuries in the mammalian central nervous system induce a variety of factors which promote or inhibit neuronal axon regeneration/sprouting. However, the inhibitory activities are much stronger, and indeed are the major obstacle to functional recovery. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are produced by activated glial cells, and are among the strongest inhibitors. Here, we investigated th...

Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncolgy Email: [email protected] Tel(Fax): 86-22-2352-2919 OBJECTIVE To ~nvest~gate m~dkine (MK) prote~n expression rn human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and rts relation to dissemination of cancer cells in blood. METHODS Circulating tumor cells were detected in preoperative blood samples using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for alpha-fetoprot...

The cytokine midkine (MK) promotes tumor growth mainly by inducing angiogenesis. Here, we identified the source of MK in the vascular system under hypoxic conditions and demonstrated the relevance of MK during ischemia of normal tissue. Hypoxia increased MK protein expression in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), monocytes, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) compared wit...

Midkine (MK) is a retinoic acid-inducible heparin-binding growth factor involved in developmental and regeneration processes (e.g. vasculogenesis, proliferation, neurite outgrowth), but apparently also in inflammation (e.g. fibrinolysis, chemokine production, leucocyte migration) [1]. In [2] Hobo et al. show that hypertension and kidney injury that follow 5/6 nephrectomy are mediated by midkine...

UNLABELLED Midkine (MK) is a growth factor with neurotrophic and neurite outgrowth activities. It was expressed in the peri-ischaemic area in the acute phase of cerebral infarction in rat brains. Astrocytes were the origin of MK in this occasion. MK has been assessed in terms of its effects on neural injury. The administration of MK into the lateral ventricle immediately prior to ischaemia prev...