17Beta-estradiol (E2) induces c-fos protooncogene expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, and previous studies in HeLa cells identified an imperfect palindromic estrogen-responsive element (-1212 to -1200) that was required for trans-activation. In contrast, the estrogen-responsive element was not required for E2 responsiveness in MCF-7 cells, and using a series of constructs containing ...

Cancer cells differ from normal cells in many characteristics including loss of differentiation and uninhibited cell proliferation. Recent studies have focused on the identification of factors contributing to cell growth and differentiation. Gut-enriched Krüppel-like factor (GKLF or KLF4) is a newly identified eukaryotic transcription factor and has been shown to play a role in regulating growt...

OBJECTIVE Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is upregulated rapidly on endothelial cells during ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) and mediates tissue leukocyte accumulation. The ICAM-1 proximal promoter contains a signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) binding motif (gamma-interferon activation site [GAS] sequence), which flanks a specificity protein 1 (Sp1) binding site. We e...

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family of ligands (composed of A-, B-, C-, and D-chains), potent mitogens, and chemoattractants for cells of mesenchymal origin has been implicated in numerous vascular pathologies involving smooth muscle cell (SMC) hyperplasia. Understanding the molecular mechanisms mediating PDGF transcription would provide new insights into strategies to control PDGF...

BACKGROUND Glioblastoma is an extraordinarily aggressive disease that requires more effective therapeutic options. Snail family zinc finger 1, dysregulated in many neoplasms, has been reported to be involved in gliomas. However, the biological mechanisms underlying SNAI1 function in gliomas need further investigation. METHODS Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure microRNA-128 (miR-12...

This study explored morphological, mineralogical, and physicochemical features of suspected toxic mordenite fibers from Northern Italy. All the samples (FAS1, GC1, SP1) show similar structural chemical character, are Na-rich (Na > Ca K), Al content decrease reflects unit cell volumes in series: FAS1 SP1 GC1. The aerodynamic diameter (Dae) values 1.19 μm for GC1 sample, 2.69 FAS1, 3.91 SP1. s...

Interferon (IFN) therapy is effective in treating cancers, haematological and virus induced diseases. The classical Jak/Stat pathway of IFN signal transduction leading to changes in transcriptional activity is well established but alone does not explain the whole spectrum of cellular responses to IFN. Gene promoters contain cis-acting sequences that allow precise and contextual binding of trans...

Id family helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins are involved in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of several cell types. To identify cis- and trans-acting factors that regulate Id4 gene expression, we have analyzed the promoter regulatory sequences of the human Id4 gene in transient transfections and gel mobility shift assays. We have identified two functional elements, both located...

The nonstructural proteins of parvovirus exert a variety of disparate functions during viral infection ranging from promoter regulation, involvement in DNA replication, and induction of apoptosis. Our interest was focused on the possible mechanism by which the NS1 protein mediates its effects on the p6 promoter of parvovirus B19. It is known that the p6 promoter is highly active in different ce...