We have examined whether the development of embryonic muscle fiber type is regulated by competing influences between Hedgehog and TGFb signals, as previously shown for development of neuronal cell identity in the neural tube. We found that ectopic expression of Hedgehogs or inhibition of protein kinase A in zebrafish embryos induces slow muscle precursors throughout the somite but muscle pionee...

Lymphatic vessels are one of the major routes for the dissemination of cancer cells. Malignant tumors release growth factors such as VEGF-C to induce lymphangiogenesis, thereby promoting lymph node metastasis. Here, we report that sine oculis homeobox homolog 1 (SIX1), expressed in tumor cells, can promote tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis by coordinating with TGFb to increase t...

Protection and restoration of a functional b-cell mass are fundamental strategies for prevention and treatment of diabetes. Consequently, knowledge of signals that determine the functional b-cell mass is of immense clinical relevance. Transforming growth factor b (TGFb) superfamily signaling pathways play a critical role in development and tissue specification. Nevertheless, the role of these p...

T cells directed to endogenous tumor antigens are powerful mediators of tumor regression. Recent immunotherapy advances have identified effective interventions to unleash tumor-specific T-cell activity in patients who naturally develop them. Eliciting T-cell responses to a patient's individual tumor remains a major challenge. Radiation therapy can induce immune responses to model antigens expre...

Based on preliminary but variable results with direct DNA transfer into wounds, we evaluated in vivo gene transfer by particle-mediated DNA delivery to rat skin to determine whether overexpression of TGFb 1 at the site of skin incisions would result in a significant improvement in repair. Optimization of the method with viral promoter–luciferase reporter constructs indicated that expression of ...

AIMS The expression patterns of TGFB signaling proteins, such as TGFB1/2, TGFBR1(ALK5), TGFBR2, SMAD1/2/3, SMAD2/3, SMAD4, SMAD7, and of downstream targets of TGFB signaling, CDKN1A (p21CIP1), CDKN1B (p27KIP1), MYC, CDC25A, TP53, and RELA (p65NF-kB) were investigated in gastric carcinomas and other gastric lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 112 gastric carcinomas, 37 dysplasias, 54 intes...

Human chondrodysplasias are a group of conditions that affect the cartilage. It involves the growth, organization and development of the skeleton. The majority of bones in the skeleton are generated through two different mechanisms: the intramembranous and the endochondral ossifications. In the intramembranous process, mesenchymal cells originating from the neural crest and the cephalic mesoder...

The objective of the current study was to determine the role of transforming growth factor beta (TGFb) during seminiferous cord formation and embryonic testis development. The expression pattern of mRNA for TGFb isoforms was evaluated during testis development through a quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) procedure. Expression of mRNA for TGFb1 was highest at p...

T cells directed to endogenous tumor antigens are powerful mediators of tumor regression. Recent immunotherapy advances have identified effective interventions to unleash tumor-specific T-cell activity in patients who naturally develop them. Eliciting T-cell responses to a patient's individual tumor remains a major challenge. Radiation therapy can induce immune responses to model antigens expre...