beta-Catenin and transcriptional factor TCF-4 (human T-cell factor-4) genes comprise the Wnt signal. The Wnt signal pathway plays an important role in malignant transformation. We hypothesize that the beta-catenin and TCF-4 gene and Wnt signal are important in the progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). To test this hypothesis, we investigated TCF-4 splicing isoforms, beta-catenin, and Wnt s...

Background: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) undergo a conversion from contractile phenotype to proliferative synthetic phenotype, contributing the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Semaphorin 7A (SEMA7A) is glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane protein that plays an important role in vascular homeostasis by regulating endothelial cell behaviors. However, expression and SEMA...

Our previous work demonstrates that DHX32 is upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to its adjacent normal tissues. However, how overexpressed DHX32 contributes to CRC remains largely unknown. In this study, we reported that DHX32 was overexpressed in human colon cancer cells. Overexpressed DHX32 promoted SW480 cancer cells proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as decreased t...

In order to explore the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats and its underlying mechanisms, intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin were used to establish the diabetes models and sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) was used as an exogenous donor of H2S. Eight weeks later, Van Gieson staining was used to observe pathological changes, and basic hydrolysis methods ...

Abstract Background Crohn’s disease (CD) is characterized by chronic recurrent intestinal inflammation that leads to progressive fibrotic remodelling of the wall. Despite advances in medical therapy for CD, 50% patients still require surgical treatment after 10 years mainly due fibrosis-associated stenosis formation. A specific anti-fibrotic does not yet exist, underlining need further research...

ne heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) coreceptor is not like another. On page 729, Ding et al. show how two HSPGs, both capable of acting as growth factor coreceptors, have distinct functions on cancer cells. Glypican-1 acts as a long-term growth factor coreceptor, whereas syndecan-1 is shed and helps spread a metasis-promoting proteinase. Upon stimulation with fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2...

Muscarinic receptors (CHRM) are overexpressed in colon cancer. To explore a role for muscarinic receptor signaling in colon cancer metastasis, we used human H508 and HT29 colon cancer cells that coexpress epidermal growth factor (ERBB) and CHRM3 receptors. In a wound closure model, following 8-h incubation of H508 cells with 100 μM ACh we observed a threefold increase in cell migration indistin...

Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant tumor of the liver arising from the bile duct epithelium, accounting for 10-25% of all primary hepatic cancers. The clinical presentation of this tumor is not specific and the diagnosis of early cholangiocarcinoma is difficult, especially in patients with other biliary diseases. Measurement of serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (C...