Transforming growth factor-beta1 and its subtype receptor endoglin are key components in angiogenesis. We explored the role of angiotensin (Ang) II in the expression of endoglin and the underlying intracellular signaling mechanism in human coronary artery endothelial cells. Incubation of cells with Ang II upregulated endoglin expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner (maximal eff...

background and aims. melatonin is a circulating hormone that is mainly released from the pineal gland. it possesses antioxidant, free-radical scavenging, and immune-enhancing properties. a growing number of studies reveal a complex role for melatonin in influencing various diseases, including diabetes and periodontal diseases. the aim of this study was to examine the possible links between sali...

heavy metals such as cu(ii) and pb(ii) are among the hazardous pollutants that lead to severe ecological problems and have a toxic effect on living organisms. the removal of cu(ii) and pb(ii) by iranian bentonite experiment were conducted in single component and multi component systems. the bentonite from the birjand area was characterized by x-ray diffraction pattern and ftir spectroscopy. the...

The rat bladder carcinoma epithelial NBT-II cell line undergoes, in vitro, a morphological transition to a fibroblast-like state in the presence of different growth factors. We have selected, in vivo, a metastatic clone, designated M-NBT-II, which has a mesenchymal phenotype and secretes into the culture medium a factor able to dissociate epithelial clusters of NBT-II or MDCK cells. This factor...

Atrial natriuretic factor induces renal sodium excretion by several mechanisms, including inhibition of angiotensin II-stimulated sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubule. In most tissues, the action of atrial natriuretic factor involves generation of the intracellular second messenger, cyclic GMP, but in the proximal tubule the presence of this signal transduction pathway has remained contro...