The expression of the anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 is known to confer protective effects on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The current study investigated the expression levels of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in response to multiple pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture at acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Fengchi (GB20) stimulation. Rats w...

Transforming growth factor-beta, a potent modulator of cell function, induces fibroblasts cultured on plastic to increase collagen synthesis. In 5- and 7-day porcine skin wounds, which have minimal to moderate collagen matrix, respectively, transforming growth factor-beta and type I procollagen were coordinately expressed throughout the granulation tissue. However, in 10-day collagen-rich granu...

The stiffness of the extracellular matrix can profoundly influence cell and tissue behaviors. Thus there is an emerging emphasis on understanding how matrix mechanical environments are established, regulated, and modified. Here we develop a microrheometric assay to measure the mechanical properties of a model extracellular matrix (type I collagen gel) and use it to explore cytokine-induced, cel...

BACKGROUND Dupuytren's Disease (DD) is a debilitating contractile fibrosis of the palmar fascia characterised by excess collagen deposition, contractile myofibroblast development, increased transforming growth factor-beta levels and beta-catenin accumulation. The aim of this study was to determine if a collagen-enriched environment, similar to in vivo conditions, altered beta-catenin accumulati...

Introduction: Natural biomaterials and growth factors are key factors in tissue engineering. The objective of the present study was to evaluate transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and curcumin on proliferation and differentiation of nasal-derived chondrocyte seeded on the fibrin glue scaffold. Methods: Chondrocytes were isolated from nasal samples. Nasal-derived chon...

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), a multi-functional cytokine, is involved in regulating a variety of cellular activities and the serum/plasma TGF-beta1 level is altered with various diseases. However, most published reports have described adult patients, and so we investigated the clinical significance of serum TGF-beta1 level in pediatric patients. The diagnostic application of th...