The aorta is the largest artery in the body, yet processes underlying aortic pathology are poorly understood. The arterial media consists of circumferential layers of elastic lamellae and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and many arterial diseases are characterized by defective lamellae and excess SMCs; however, a mechanism linking these pathological features is lacking. In this study, we use lineag...

BACKGROUND Integrins are heterodimeric glycoprotein receptors that regulate the interaction of cells with extracellular matrix and may have a critical role in implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ovulation induction on the expression of α4, αv, β1, and β3 integrins in mouse blastocyst at the time of implantation. METHODS The ovarian stimulated and non-stimulate...

Active RhoA localizes to plasma membrane, where it stimulates formation of focal adhesions and stress fibers. RhoA activity is inhibited by p190RhoGAP following integrin-mediated cell attachment to allow sampling of new adhesive environments. p190RhoGAP is itself activated by Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation, which facilitates complex formation with p120RasGAP. This complex then transloca...

Brown adipose tissue is distinguished by its unique capacity for uncoupled mitochondrial respiration, which is highly regulated by sympathetic nerve activity. Because of this, energy expenditure in brown fat is capable of ranging over many orders of magnitude. The fact that the function of brown adipose tissue is impaired in obese rodents and that transgenic mice with decreased brown fat develo...

BACKGROUND Tracheal stenosis constitutes one of the most frequently seen problems in thoracic surgery. Although many treatment modalities to prevent fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, or inflammation that causes tracheal stenosis have been attempted, an effective method has not yet been found. In this study, a transforming growth factor beta3 (TGF-β3)/chitosan combination was used for this...

Here, the influence of β3-adrenoceptors on catecholamine release in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats was analyzed. Blood pressure was recorded through a femoral artery catheter, and cardiac output by ascending aorta flow. Time from onset of flow to maximum rise in flow indicated inotropy. Total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) was calculated. Norepinephrine release was stimu...

Abstract Background Diastolic dysfunction (DD) in heart failure (HF) is associated with increased myocardial cytosolic calcium, and calcium-efflux via the sodium-calcium-exchanger depends on sodium gradient. Beta-3-adrenoceptor (β3-AR)-agonist lowers has been shown to reverse organ congestion. Purpose To assess whether β3-AR-agonist treatment improves DD. Methods In a first-in-man randomized co...

A 3-D scaffold that simulates the microenvironment in vivo for regenerating cartilage is ideal. In this study, we combined silk fibroin and decellularized cartilage extracellular matrix by temperature gradient-guided thermal-induced phase separation to produce composite scaffolds (S/D). Resulting scaffolds had remarkable mechanical properties and biomimeticstructure, for a suitable substrate fo...

During platelet activation, fibrinogen binds to its specific platelet receptor, integrin αIIb β3 , thus completing the final common pathway for platelet aggregation. Norcantharidin (NCTD) is a promising anticancer agent in China from medicinal insect blister beetle. In this study, we provided the evidence to demonstrate NCTD (0.1-1.0 μM) possesses very powerful antiplatelet activity in human pl...

Abstract Introduction High-grade primary brain tumors cause serious morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) suppressor mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) receptors in high-grade tumors. Material Method Thirteen patients with a pathological diagnosis glioblastoma multiforme were included study. Pathological preparations eac...