Background. Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)induced epithelial–myofibroblast transdifferentiation is a central mechanism contributing to the pathogenesis of progressive tubulo-interstitial fibrosis. We wanted to dissect the role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1,2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and the receptor-regulated Smad proteins in the regulation...

Background: Breast cancer (BC) stroma has CD34- and αSMA-positive cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) differently distributed. During malignant transformation, CD34-positive decrease while CAFs increase. The prevalence of in BC makes microscopic examination difficult without digital image analysis processing (DIA). DIA was used to compare among breast molecular subgroups. DIA-derived data were...

The suppression of elements associated with wound contracture and unfavorable scarring is a potentially important strategy in clinical wound management. In this study, the presence of α smooth muscle actin (αSMA), a protein involved in wound contraction, was analyzed in a series of wounds in which bovine fetal collagen (BFC) acellular dermal matrix (PriMatrix) was used in staged split thickness...

BACKGROUND IGF-1 is elevated in pulmonary fibrosis and acute lung injury, where fibroblast activation is a prominent feature. We previously demonstrated that blockade of IGF pathway in murine model of lung fibrosis improved outcome and decreased fibrosis. We now expand that study to examine effects of IGF pathway on lung fibroblast behaviors that could contribute to fibrosis. METHODS We first...

Background: Cancer associated fibroblast (CAF), whose marker is α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), plays vital roles in the oncogenesis and progression of various types of cancer, but its role in prognosis of gastric cancer patients remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate its prognostic value in patients with gastric cancer after surgical resection. Methods: αSMA expression was eva...

PURPOSE To investigate the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation of human Tenon's fibroblasts. METHODS Primary cultured human Tenon's fibroblasts were exposed to TGF-β1 for up to 48 hours. The mRNA levels of FAK, α smooth muscle actin (αSMA), and β-actin were determined by quantitative real time reverse transcripti...

Seven Baladi goats of both sexes (9 to 24 months old) were used to describe the distribution pattern of ki-67, alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and vimentin (VIM) in the reticulum and omasum. This study was carried out using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method. Ki-67 immunostaining was restricted to the basal cells layer in the epithelia of both the reticulum and omasum, suggesting the im...

BACKGROUND During liver injury, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can undergo activation and transform into alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA)-expressing contractile myofibroblast-like cells, leading to deposition of excessive scar matrix. We have recently demonstrated that depletion of adenosine deaminase acting on double-stranded RNA (ADAR1) from mouse hepatocytes leads to HSC activation and induct...

We have reported that the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) signaling pathway plays an important role in the development of pressure overload-induced inflammatory responses and heart failure. However, its role in cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction has not been elucidated. TLR9-deficient and control C57Bl/6 wild-type mice were subjected to left coronary artery ligation. The survival rate 1...