OBJECTIVE The transcription factor AP-1 is a mediator of hypertrophic growth and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. This puts AP-1 in the center of two important processes found in the failing heart and implies that variations (i) in the AP-1 composition itself or (ii) in additional, interacting transcription factors are responsible for the diverse actions of AP-1. To test this hypothesis, we perform...

The calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced renal fibrosis is attributed to an exaggerated deposition of extracellular matrix, which is mainly due to an increased expression of TGFbeta. Herein we demonstrate that the CNI cyclosporin A and tacrolimus (FK506), independent of TGFbeta synthesis, rapidly activate TGFbeta/Smad signaling in cultured mesangial cells and in whole kidney samples from CNI-tre...

Hypoxia of local tissue occurs during the scar formation; however, the degree of ischemia and hypoxia in the central areas of keloids is more serious than those in normal scars. Hypoxia-induced factor (HIF), is one of the main cellular responses to hypoxia, allowing cells to adapt to low-oxygen conditions. We investigated the correlation among hypoxia, transforming growth factor-β1/Smad signali...

We report that exposure of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFbeta-1) (5 ng/ml) results in a strong activation of p8 mRNA expression that precedes the induction of cell growth. Involvement of the p8 promoter in the regulation was demonstrated by using a p8-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct. We therefore speculated that p8 might be a mediator of TGFbet...

The Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β) family is involved in regulating a variety of cellular processes such as apoptosis, differentiation, and proliferation. TGF-β binding to a Serine/Threonine kinase receptor complex causes the recruitment and subsequent activation of transcription factors known as smad2 and smad3. These proteins subsequently translocate into the nucleus to negatively or...

Cleome viscosa L. (Cleomaceae) is an important traditional medicine of the Indian-Ayurvedic and Chinese-medicine system documented for rheumatic arthritis, hypertension, malaria, neurasthenia, and wound healing. The plant is also known as Asian spider flower and is distributed throughout the greater part of India. The present study explored the wound healing property of C. viscosa methanol extr...

BACKGROUND Myocardial infarction-induced remodeling includes chamber dilatation, contractile dysfunction, and fibrosis. Of these, fibrosis is the least understood. After myocardial infarction, activated cardiac fibroblasts deposit extracellular matrix. Current therapies to prevent fibrosis are inadequate, and new molecular targets are needed. METHODS AND RESULTS Herein we report that glycogen...

The Smad proteins transduce the signal of transforming growth factor-p (TGF-P) and related factors from the cell surface to the nucleus. Following C-terminal phosphorylation by a corresponding receptor kinase, the R-Smad proteins form heteromeric complexes with Smad4. These complexes translocate into the nucleus, bind specific transcriptional activators and DNA, ultimately modulating gene expre...

Background and Objective. High-cholesterol diet (HCD) intends to increase the oxidative stress in liver tissues inducing hepatotoxicity. Rutin is a natural flavonoid (vitamin p) which is known to have antioxidative properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of Rutin on hypercholesterolemia-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods. Male Wistar ...