MicroRNA-155 is regulated by the transforming growth factor beta/Smad pathway and contributes to epithelial cell plasticity by targeting RhoA.

MicroRNA-155 Is Regulated by TGFβ/Smad Pathway and Contributes to Epithelial Cell Plasticity by Targeting RhoA

MEKK1 transduces activin signals in keratinocytes to induce actin stress fiber formation and migration.

Activins and other members of the transforming growth factor beta family play a critical role in morphological changes of the epidermis that require epithelial cell movement. We investigated the molecular pathways in the transmission of activin signals that lead to actin reorganization and epithelial cell migration. We found that activins cause the activation of RhoA but not of Rac and CDC42, l...

MicroRNA-155 Modulates Treg and Th17 Cells Differentiation and Th17 Cell Function by Targeting SOCS1

MicroRNA (miR)-155 is a critical player in both innate and adaptive immune responses. It can influence CD4(+) T cell lineage choice. To clarify the role of miR-155 in CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg)/T helper (Th)17 cell differentiation and function, as well as the mechanism involved, we performed gain-and loss-of-function analysis by transfection pre-miR-155 and anti-miR-155 into purified CD...

Specific activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by transforming growth factor-beta receptors in lipid rafts is required for epithelial cell plasticity.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta regulates a spectrum of cellular events, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. In addition to the canonical Smad pathway, TGF-beta can also activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and small GTPases in a cell-specific manner. Here, we report that cholesterol depletion interfered with...

A novel treatment approach for retinoblastoma by targeting epithelial growth factor receptor expression with a shRNA lentiviral system

Objective(s): Non-invasive treatment options for retinoblastoma (RB), the most common malignant eye tumor among children, are lacking. Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) accelerates cell proliferation, survival, and invasion of many tumors including RB. However, RB treatment by targeting EGFR has not yet been researched. In the current study, we investigated the effect of EGFR down-regula...