The net balance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) system has been known to be a key factor in tumor cell invasion. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of anti-invasive and antimigrative activity of transforming growth factor (TGF)-B1 on HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells. In in vitro Matrigel invasion and Transwell migra...

Background: The pro-fibrogenic cytokine connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays an important role in the development and progression of fibrosis in many organ systems, including liver. However, its role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced liver fibrosis remains unclear. Methods: In the present study, we assessed CTGF expression in HCV-infected hepatocytes using replicon ...

BACKGROUND Denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy results in significant biochemical and physiological changes potentially leading to devastating outcomes including increased mortality. Effective treatments for skeletal muscle diseases are currently not available. Muscle-specific miRNAs, such as miR-206, play an important role in the regulation of muscle regeneration. The aim of the presen...

M arfan syndrome is a multisystem disorder, but its most devastating manifestations are aortic aneurysms and dissection. This syndrome results from mutations in FBN1, which encodes fibrillin-1, a microfibrillar protein that decorates the surface of elastin fibers. Over 100 known mutations in FBN1 cause Marfan syndrome, resulting in a wide variance of clinical presentations in affected individua...

M arfan syndrome is a multisystem disorder, but its most devastating manifestations are aortic aneurysms and dissection. This syndrome results from mutations in FBN1, which encodes fibrillin-1, a microfibrillar protein that decorates the surface of elastin fibers. Over 100 known mutations in FBN1 cause Marfan syndrome, resulting in a wide variance of clinical presentations in affected individua...

BACKGROUND The ubiquitin proteasome pathway plays a pivotal role in controlling cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation in a variety of normal and tumor cells. This study aimed to investigate the role of a proteasome inhibitor on proliferation, apoptosis and related proteins in renal interstitial fibroblasts (NRK-49F). METHODS NRK-49F cells were induced using transforming growth fac...

Background Nasal polyps are associated with chronic inflammation of the sinonasal mucosa and are involved in myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Ginsenoside Rg1, a compound derived from Panax ginseng, shows antifibrotic and anticancer effects. However, the molecular effects of Rg1 on myofibroblast differentiation and ECM production remain unknown. The aims...