Global inactivation of the metalloproteinase ADAM17 during mouse development results in perinatal lethality and abnormalities of the heart, including late embryonic cardiomegaly and thickened semilunar and atrioventricular valves. These defects have been attributed in part to a lack of ADAM17-mediated processing of HB-EGF, as absence of soluble HB-EGF results in similar phenotypes. Because valv...

The goal of the study was to measure plasma levels soluble TAM receptors (sTAMRs: Tyro3, Axl and Mer), growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6), free-PROS1 (Protein S), C4bp-protein two disintegrin metallopeptidase domains (ADAM 10 17) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). subjects were 56 patients, including 14 cases severe AP 42 mild AP, 20 healthy normal controls. Plasma three sTAMRs, Gas6, free ...

iRHOM2 is a highly conserved, catalytically inactive member of the Rhomboid family, which has recently been shown to regulate the maturation of the multi-substrate ectodomain sheddase enzyme ADAM17 (TACE) in macrophages. Dominant iRHOM2 mutations are the cause of the inherited cutaneous and oesophageal cancer-susceptibility syndrome tylosis with oesophageal cancer (TOC), suggesting a role for t...

Adipose tissue expresses components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2), a new component of the RAS, catabolizes the vasoconstrictor peptide ANG II to form the vasodilator angiotensin 1-7 [ANG-(1-7)]. We examined whether adipocytes express ACE2 and its regulation by manipulation of the RAS and by high-fat (HF) feeding. ACE2 mRNA expression increased (thre...

OBJECTIVE Reactive oxygen species generated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases contribute to angiogenesis and vascular repair. NADPH oxidase organizer 1 (NoxO1) is a cytosolic protein facilitating assembly of constitutively active NADPH oxidases. We speculate that NoxO1 also contributes to basal reactive oxygen species formation in the vascular system and thus modul...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is marked by alveolar enlargement and excess production of airway mucus. Acrolein, a component of cigarette smoke, increases mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), a prevalent airway mucin in NCI-H292 cells by transcriptional activation, but the signal transduction pathways involved in acrolein-induced MUC5AC expression are unknown. Acrolein depleted cellular glutathione at d...


 Purpose: To examine the role of miR-557 in pathogenesis and development glioblastoma (GBM) its potential regulatory mechanism.
 Methods: Dysregulation GBM cells was determined using quantitative (real-time) PCR (qPCR). Cell proliferative ability, migratory activity invasive ability were measured MTT colorimetric assay, wound healing assay Transwell chambers assay. The direct target ...

BACKGROUND We have previously identified an atherosclerosis quantitative trait locus (QTL) on mouse chromosome (Chr) 12 in an F2-intercross of atherosclerosis-resistant FVB and atherosclerosis-susceptible C57BL/6 (B6) mice on the LDL-receptor deficient (LDL-/-) background. The aim of the present study was to identify potentially causative genes at this locus. METHODS AND RESULTS Expression QT...

Limited proteolysis of the Interleukin-6 Receptor (IL-6R) leads to the release of the IL-6R ectodomain. Binding of the cytokine IL-6 to the soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) results in an agonistic IL-6/sIL-6R complex, which activates cells via gp130 irrespective of whether the cells express the IL-6R itself. This signaling pathway has been termed trans-signaling and is thought to mainly account for the p...

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a common genetic disorder leading to cyst formation in the kidneys and other organs that ultimately results in kidney failure and death. Currently, there is no therapy for slowing down or stopping the progression of PKD. In this study, we identified the disintegrin metalloenzyme 17 (ADAM17) as a key regulator of cell proliferation in kidney tissues of conditio...