Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) is a multifunctional polypeptide. Its role in carcinogenesis can be either suppressive or promoting depending on tumor developmental stages and cellular context. During the early phase of epithelial tumorigenesis, TGFbeta inhibits primary tumor development and growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and possibly apoptosis. However, in late stages of progre...

introduction:  in order to assess echocardiographic left ventricular functional indices in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (dtc), after l-t4 withdrawal (short-term overt hypothyroidism) and during tsh suppressive therapy, we have evaluated cardiac hemodynamics in a single cohort study. methods: 24 patients with dtc were studied in two phases: 1: at least 4 weeks after l-t4 withdr...

Blood endothelial cells (ECs) act as gatekeepers to coordinate the extravasation of different T cell subpopulations. ECs express defined panels of adhesion molecules, facilitating interaction with blood circulating T cells. In addition to the mere adhesion, this cellular interaction between ECs and transmigrating T cells may also provide signals that affect the phenotype and function of the T c...

Although implicated in antagonistic functions, both regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Th17 effector cells play an important role in controlling autoimmune pathogenesis. Paradoxically, recent studies indicate that Tregs have the capacity to produce interleukin-17 (IL-17), although the ability of these cells to retain their suppressive function remains unknown. Here we report that human Tregs within...

Background. Growth arrest-specific (Gas) 6 is one of the endogenous ligands of TAM receptors (Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk), and its role as an immune modulator has been recently emphasized. Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the active suppression of autoimmunity. The present study was designed to investigate whether Tregs express TAM receptors and the potentia...

Natural biological suppression of soil-borne diseases is a function of the activity and composition of soil microbial communities. Soil microbe and phytopathogen interactions can occur prior to crop sowing and/or in the rhizosphere, subsequently influencing both plant growth and productivity. Research on suppressive microbial communities has concentrated on bacteria although fungi can also infl...

Highly purified secretin, infused endoportally in five conscious mongrel dogs at a rate of 10 clinical units per min for 20 min, caused a prompt and statistically significant reduction in the pancreaticoduodenal vein level of pancreatic glucagon from a control average of 1130 pg/ml (SEM+/-312) to a nadir of 492 pg/ml (SEM+/-194) 15 min later (P < 0.01). During modest hyperglycemia of about 130 ...