OBJECTIVE Evidence supports an important role for miR-203 in the regulation of the proliferation, migration and invasion of prostate cancer (PCa) cells. However, the exact mechanisms of miR-203 in PCa are not entirely clear. METHODS We examined the expression of miR-203 in prostate cancer tissues, adjacent normal tissues, PCa cell lines and normal prostate epithelial cells by qRT-PCR. Then, t...

Among the small GTPases of the Ras family, Rap proteins exhibit the highest homology with p21Ras. The four Rap proteins so far identified constitute two subgroups, comprising the Rap1(A,B) and the Rap2(A,B) proteins. The intracellular location of Rap1A, Rap1B and Rap2A proteins was investigated in mammalian cells by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. Using a specific anti-Rap1 affinity-pur...

Background: The Guanine Triphosphatase (GTPase) Rap1A has been implicated in cell proliferation and migration in different tissues. Its role in the production, adhesion and migration of bone marrow-derived hematopoietic cells is however incompletely understood. Methods: We analysed mice lacking one or both Rap1A alleles and measured their adhesion function and their hematopoietic repopulation c...

breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in developed countries. the prevalence of the disease is increasing in the world. its annual incidence among iranian women is about 7000 cases. rap1a, a tumor suppressor gene, is located at 1p13.3 and plays an important role in the cellular adhesion pathway and is involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. the dock4 gene, which is located ...

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in developed countries. The prevalence of the disease is increasing in the world. Its annual incidence among Iranian women is about 7000 cases. RAP1A, a tumor suppressor gene, is located at 1p13.3 and plays an important role in the cellular adhesion pathway and is involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. The DOCK4 gene, which is located ...

Intracellular signaling by the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) activates the Ras-related small GTPase Rap1 through the guanine exchange factor Epac. This activation leads to effector protein interactions, activation, and biological responses in the vasculature, including vasorelaxation. In vascular smooth muscle cells derived from human dermal arterioles (microVSM), Rap1 selectively regulate...

The Ras-related GTPase Rap1 stimulates integrin-mediated adhesion and spreading in various mammalian cell types. Here, we demonstrate that Rap1 regulates cell spreading by localizing guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that act via the Rho family GTPase Rac1. Rap1a activates Rac1 and requires Rac1 to enhance spreading, whereas Rac1 induces spreading independently of Rap1. Active Rap1a bi...

Tumor inflammation, the recruitment of myeloid lineage cells into the tumor microenvironment, promotes angiogenesis, immunosuppression and metastasis. CD11b+Gr1lo monocytic lineage cells and CD11b+Gr1hi granulocytic lineage cells are recruited from the circulation by tumor-derived chemoattractants, which stimulate PI3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ)-mediated integrin α4 activation and extravasation. We show h...

BACKGROUND Design of efficient nonviral gene delivery systems is limited by the rudimentary understanding of specific molecules that facilitate transfection. METHODS Polyplexes using 25-kDa polyethylenimine (PEI) and plasmid-encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) were delivered to HEK 293T cells. After treating cells with polyplexes, microarrays were used to identify endogenous genes differ...

Neutrophil plasma membranes from patients with the X-linked and autosomal recessive forms of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) that lack cytochrome b are incapable of generating superoxide anion (O2-) in vivo and in vitro. The O2- generating activity of these defective membranes was reconstituted with the addition of partially purified human neutrophil cytochrome b in a detergent-based, cell-...