Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignant tumour of mesothelial origin associated with asbestos exposure. Because MPM has limited response to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the prognosis is very poor. Several researchers have reported that cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 play an important role in the growth of MPM. Previously, it was reported that all-tra...

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) promotes cancer progression by regulating tumor cell growth and angiogenesis and high levels of TGF-beta1 have been associated with metastatic disease and poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. We have previously reported anti-angiogenic effects of the anti-estrogen tamoxifen in breast cancer, by increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activi...

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has emerged as a critical event in the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. EMT is typically induced by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and inhibited by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-derived PGE2 in regulation of EMT in cultured Madin-Darby ...

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) in combination with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) or transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) are under evaluation for bone tissue engineering. Posttranslational modification of type I collagen is essential for functional bone tissue with adequate physical and mechanical properties. We investigated whether BMP-2 (10-100 ng/mL) a...

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-met protooncogene. In this study, we demonstrated that c-met expression was upregulated in the kidney after obstructive injury in mice. Because the pattern of c-met induction was closely correlated with transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression in vivo, we further investigated the ...

Chorioamnionitis is frequently associated with preterm birth and increases the risk of adverse outcomes such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is a key regulator of lung development, airway remodeling, lung fibrosis, and regulation of inflammation, and all these processes contribute to the development of BPD. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a ...

Simvastatin is best known for its antilipidemic action and use in cardiovascular disease due to its inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoenzymeA (HMG CoA) reductase, a key enzyme in the cholesterol synthesis pathway. Inhibition of biological precursors in this pathway also enables pleiotrophic immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capabilities, including modulation of growth factor expre...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a hypoxia-inducible angiogenic mitogen. However, chronic hypoxia is generally not found to increase mammalian skeletal muscle capillarity. We sought to determine the effect of chronic hypoxia (8 wk, inspired O2 fraction = 0.12) on skeletal muscle gene expression of VEGF, its receptors (flt-1 and flk-1), basic fibroblast growth factor, and transformin...

Bronchial smooth muscle cell (BSMC) hyperplasia is a typical feature of airway remodeling and contributes to airway obstruction and hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) are sequentially upregulated in asthmatic airways after allergic challenge. Whereas FGF-2 induces BSMC proliferation, the mitogenic effect of TGF-beta...

transforming growth factor beta (tgf-b) is a mediator released by nearly all cell types. it has suppression activity on the immune system, but exactly how this effect is carried out is not clear. previous experiments showed that igg interacts with or carriers active tgf-b, that could suppresses cytotoxic t-cell responses to an immunogenic tumor in mice. since t cell receptor (tcr) has structura...