BACKGROUND Cartilage tissue engineering offers new strategies in repairing damaged cartilage. Scaffolds have been used for the in vitro and in vivo procedures for this application, which demonstrates the compatible biological and physical properties that mimic natural tissues. Several types of scaffolds were used and had different effects on cell functions. The study was designed to develop a f...

To investigate the association between immune-cell-related cytokines and development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), patients with virus (HBV) infection in immunotolerant (IT) phase (n = 30) or envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB 250) were enrolled this study. Serological indicators plasma cytokine levels measured at time enrollment. The results showed that there significant differences median ...

Transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-β3) and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25 (OH) 2D3) are essential factors in chondrogenesis and osteogenesis respectively. These factors also play a fundamental role in the developmental processes and the maintenance of skeletal integrity, but their respective direct effects on these processes are not fully understood. Using an organotypic bone rudiment cult...

Hydrostatic pressure (HP) is a key component of the in vivo joint environment and has been shown to enhance chondrogenesis of stem cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction between HP and TGF-β3 on both the initiation and maintenance of a chondrogenic phenotype for joint tissue derived stem cells. Pellets generated from porcine chondrocytes (CCs), synovial membrane d...

The aim of the current in vitro study was to investigate if tissue surface modification with collagenase and addition of the TGF-β3 can increase the number of cells present in meniscus tears repaired with the use of newly developed tissue adhesives based on isocyanate-terminated block copolymers. Cylindrical explants were harvested from the inner part of bovine menisci. To simulate a full-thick...

PURPOSE Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal thinning disease of unknown etiology whose pathophysiology is correlated with the presence of a thin corneal stroma and altered extracellular matrix (ECM). Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is a key regulator of ECM secretion and assembly in multiple tissues, including the anterior segment of the eye, and it has been linked to KC. We have previ...

Purpose. To detect the levels of transform growth factors- β (TGF- β1 , TGF- β2 β3) interferon- ʏ (INF- ), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and S100B protein in blood serum patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) to reveal connection these factors neurodegenerative changes retina. Material methods. 30 patients, averagely aged 60.3, DM no signs diabetic retinopathy (DR) (the main group) he...

The aim of the present was to evaluate the effects of DNA methylation and histone acetylation on 2,3,7,8‑tetrachlorodibenzo‑p‑dioxin (TCDD)‑induced cleft palate in fetal mice. Pregnant mice (n=10) were randomly divided into two groups: i) TCDD group, mice were treated with 28 µg/kg TCDD on gestation day (GD) 10 by oral gavage; ii) control group, mice were treated with an equal volume of corn oi...

Transforming growth factor-βs (TGF-βs) regulate tissue homeostasis, and their expression is perturbed in many diseases. The three isoforms (TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3) have similar bioactivities in vitro but show distinct activities in vivo. Little quantitative information exists for expression of TGF-β isoform proteins in physiology or disease. We developed an optimized method to quantitate protein ...

P311 is an 8-kDa intracellular protein that is highly conserved across species and is expressed in the nervous system as well as in vascular and visceral smooth muscle cells. P311-null (P311-/-) mice display learning and memory defects, but alterations in their vasculature have not been previously described. Here we report that P311-/- mice are markedly hypotensive with accompanying defects in ...