Re-epithelialization begins early during skin wound healing and is regulated by various growth factors and cytokines. Angiotensin II promotes the migration of keratinocytes and thereby contributes to wound healing. We investigated the mechanism by which angiotensin II stimulates human keratinocyte migration. Angiotensin II–induced keratinocyte migration was inhibited by an angiotensin II type 1...

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme in corn. Feeding of FB1 to rats causes acute liver injury, chronic liver injury progressing to cirrhosis, and sometimes terminates in hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma. This study describes the histolopathology and changes in gene expression in the rat liver during short-term feeding of FB1. ...

The prognosis for individuals diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poor because of the high frequency of invasive tumor growth, intrahepatic spread, and extrahepatic metastasis. Here, we investigated the role of the standard isoform of CD44 (CD44s), a major adhesion molecule of the extracellular matrix and a cancer stem cell marker, in the TGF-b–mediated mesenchymal phenotype o...

have raised questions about its contribution to immune privilege (3, 5, 16 ), tolerance, and graft survival (8–10). Although it triggers apoptosis in T lymphocytes (2) (Fig. 2D), CD95L unexpectedly stimulated PMN activation. As described for other PMN stimulants (17), this activity is dependent on its ability to enhance p38 MAPK activity (Fig. 3). PMNs directly mediate cytolysis of CD95L cells,...

Laboratory studies suggest a dual role for the transforming growth factor-B (TGF-B) signaling pathway in breast cancer. The normal antiproliferative activity of TGF-B in early breast tumor development is replaced by a promoting effect in later stages. A T29C transition polymorphism in the TGFB1 gene has been associated with higher circulating TGF-B1 levels, and inconsistently with breast cancer...

Gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system, with glioblastomas as the most malignant entity. Rapid proliferation and diffuse brain invasion of these tumors are likely to determine the unfavorable prognosis. Considering its promigratory properties, the transforming growth factor-B (TGF-B) signaling pathway has become a major therapeutic target. Analyses of resected ...