Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS), the proliferative arrest engaged in response to persistent oncogene activation, serves as an important tumor-suppressive barrier. We show here that finite lifespan human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) undergo a p16/RB- and p53-independent OIS in response to oncogenic RAS that requires TGF-β signaling. Suppression of TGF-β signaling by expression of a dominant...

OBJECTIVE To characterize Reed-Sternberg (R-S) cells by proteomic analysis in order to gain insight into the molecular pathways that control their growth and thereby to discern potential molecular interventions in Hodgkin's disease. METHODS Ten cases of the nodular sclerosing (NS) subtype and 4 cases of the lymphocyte-predominant (LP) subtype were studied. Immunohistochemical procedures were ...

Cartilage is a tissue with limited self-healing potential. Hence, cartilage defects require surgical attention to prevent or postpone the development of osteoarthritis. For cell-based cartilage repair strategies, in particular autologous chondrocyte implantation, articular chondrocytes are isolated from cartilage and expanded in vitro to increase the number of cells required for therapy. During...

The poor prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) routinely treated with ionizing radiation (IR) has been attributed to the relative radioresistance of glioma-initiating cells (GIC). Other studies indicate that although GIC are sensitive, the response is mediated by undefined factors in the microenvironment. GBM produce abundant transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a pleotropic cytokine that promotes e...

Advanced ovarian cancer is a devastating disease. Gaining biomarkers of early detection during ovarian tumorigenesis may lead to earlier diagnosis and better therapeutic strategies. Cystatin B (CSTB) functions as an inhibitor to suppress intracellular cysteine proteases and has been implicated in several types of cancers. The present study explored the expression of CSTB in human ovarian tumors...

Increasing evidence suggests that chronic kidney disease may develop following acute kidney injury and that this may be due, in part, to hypoxia-related phenomena. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is stabilized in hypoxic conditions and regulates multiple signaling pathways that could contribute to renal fibrosis. As transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is known to mediate renal fibrosis, we propos...

AIM To explore the exact interaction between Notch and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling in liver fibrosis. METHODS We established a rat model of liver fibrosis induced by concanavalin A. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the modeled rats, and cultured with γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT and TGF-β inhibitor for 24 h. The mRNA levels of Notch and TGF-β signal...

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β antagonizes mitogenic Ras signaling during epithelial regeneration, but TGF-β and Ras act synergistically in driving tumor progression. Insights into these apparently contradictory effects have come from recent detailed analyses of the TGF-β signaling process. Here, we summarize the different modes of TGF-β/Ras signaling in normal epithelium and neoplasms and ...

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is considered an independent mortality and cardiovascular risk factor in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and contributes to the development of renal fibrosis. Quercetin (QC), a natural component of foods, protects against renal injury. Here, we explored the possible mechanisms that are responsible for ADMA-induced renal fibrosis and the protective effec...

Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a potent fibrotic factor responsible for the synthesis of extracellular matrix. TGF-beta1 acts through the TGF-beta type I and type II receptors to activate intracellular mediators, such as Smad proteins, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. We expressed the kinase domain of the TG...