Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor-1 (LEF-1), a member of the high mobility group (HMG) family of proteins, regulates expression of T-cell receptor-alpha gene and is one of the key regulatory molecules in the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during embryonic development. Among others, LEF-1 regulates expression of cytokeratin genes involved in formation of hair follicles and the gene encoding ...

Hepatic ischemia occurs in the settings of trauma, transplantation, and elective liver resections. The initiating events that account for local organ damage are only partially understood. Interferon (IFN) regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of a number of genes involved in both innate and acquired immunity; however, its function in liver injury is...

Hypercholesterolemia is involved in the development of atherosclerosis and a risk factor for coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease. This paper deals with mechanism hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis. increases formation numerous atherogenic biomolecules including reactive oxygen species (ROS), proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necros...

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young, a monogenic form of Type II diabetes mellitus, is most commonly caused by mutations in hepatic nuclear factor 1alpha (HNF-1alpha). Here, the dimerization motif of HNF-1alpha is shown to form an intermolecular four-helix bundle. One face contains an antiparallel coiled coil whereas the other contains splayed alpha-helices. The "mini-zipper" is complementary ...

Triptolide (PG490, 97% pure) is a diterpenoid triepoxide with potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects in transformed human bronchial epithelial cells and T cells (Qiu D, Zhao G, Aoki Y, Shi L, Uyei A, Nazarian S, Ng JC-H, and Kao PN. J Biol Chem 274: 13443-13450, 1999). Triptolide, with an IC(50) of approximately 20-50 ng/ml, inhibits normal and transformed human bronchial epithe...

Nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin is a key event for the development of colorectal cancer. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms underlying translocation of beta-catenin from the cytoplasm or the membrane to the nucleus. The present study examined whether signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation is involved in the nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin i...

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is an important effector for HBV-associated pathogenesis. In this study, we identified hepsin as an HBx-interacting protein and investigated the effects of hepsin on HBx-mediated complement component 3 (C3) secretion in hepatocytes. In vivo and in vitro binding between HBx and hepsin was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and Glutathione S-transferase pu...

IGF-I modulates liver tissue homeostasis. It is produced by hepatocytes and signals within the liver through IGF-I receptor expressed on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Liver cirrhosis is characterized by marked IGF-I deficiency. Here we compared the effect of two different gene therapy vectors encoding IGF-I as a potential treatment for cirrhotic patients. Rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced...

Nuclear protein IRF-1 (interferon regulatory factor 1) was earlier shown to bind to cis-acting regulatory elements present on interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta genes and some IFN-inducible genes. Here we show that in both human FS-4 and murine L929 cells, steady-state levels of IRF-1 mRNA were increased by treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 1 (IL-1), poly(I).poly(C), or IFN-beta....