The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Jan 2007
ReviewRational bases for the development of EGFR inhibitors for cancer treatment.
Growth factor receptors and their ligands not only regulate normal cell processes but have been also identified as key regulators of human cancer formation. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB1/HER1) belongs to the ErbB/HER-family of tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs). These trans-membrane proteins are activated following binding with peptide growth factors of the EGF-family of proteins. ⋯ As a result, investigators have developed approaches to inhibit the effects of EGFR activation, with the aim of blocking tumor growth and invasion. A number of agents targeting EGFR, including specific antibodies directed against its ligand-binding domain and small molecules inhibiting its tyrosine kinase activity are either in clinical trials or are already approved for clinical treatment. This article reviews the EGFR role in carcinogenesis and tumor progression as rational bases for the development of specific therapeutic inhibitors.
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Jan 2007
ReviewAcute promyelocytic leukemia: new issues on pathogenesis and treatment response.
Pathogenesis of acute promyelocytic leukemia appears to be one of the best understood among human malignancies. The ability of retinoic acid (RA) and arsenic trioxide to directly target the oncogenic promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic receptor A (PML-RARA) fusion protein also made this disease the first model for oncogene-targeted therapies. A set of recent data has significantly increased the complexity of our view of acute promyelocytic leukemia pathogenesis, as well as of therapeutic response. This review summarizes and discusses these findings, which yield novels questions and models.
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Jan 2007
Iron-independent specific protein expression pattern in the liver of HFE-deficient mice.
Hereditary hemochromatosis type I is an autosomal-recessive iron overload disease associated with a mutation in HFE gene. The most common mutation, C282Y, disrupts the disulfide bond necessary for the association of HFE with beta-2-microglobulin and abrogates cell surface HFE expression. HFE-deficient mice develop iron overload indicating a central role of the protein in the pathogenesis of hereditary hemochromatosis type I. ⋯ We found 11 proteins that were differentially expressed in the HFE-deficient liver using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry identification. Of particular interest were urinary proteins 1, 2 and 6, glutathione-S-transferase P1, selenium binding protein 2, sarcosine dehydrogenase and thioredoxin-like protein 2. Our data suggest possible involvement of lipocalins, TNF-alpha signaling and PPAR alpha regulatory pathway in the pathogenesis of hereditary hemochromatosis and suggest future targeted research addressing the roles of the identified candidate genes in the molecular mechanism of hereditary hemochromatosis.
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Mar 2006
Signalling via the reperfusion injury signalling kinase (RISK) pathway links closure of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore to cardioprotection.
Post-ischemic interventions that activate phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K)-Akt or ERK1/2 pro-survival kinases (the so-called "reperfusion injury signalling kinase (RISK) pathway") during the first few minutes of reperfusion protect against lethal reperfusion-induced injury. We have previously shown that insulin protects against reperfusion-induced injury via activation of the PI3K-Akt pathway. In addition, opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) at the time of reperfusion is a major determinant of lethal reperfusion-induced injury, and pharmacologically inhibiting it is cardioprotective. ⋯ The expression of a dominant negative construct of Akt eliminated the effect of insulin in delaying mPTP opening in a cardiac cell line. Furthermore, the overexpression of constitutively active Akt was sufficient to maximally delay mPTP opening. These results indicate that activation of the PI3K-Akt pro-survival kinase pathway inhibits opening of the mPTP, and demonstrate an important link between the survival kinases and the mPTP.
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Oct 2005
ReviewInsulin-like growth factor-1 and muscle wasting in chronic heart failure.
Chronic heart failure is a clinical syndrome of cardiac origin, which affects various organ systems. It is associated with metabolic abnormalities leading to a catabolic syndrome in advanced stages of the disease. As in several other chronic diseases, skeletal muscle dysfunction and structural muscle abnormalities result in progressive muscle wasting and cachexia. ⋯ This suppression occurs in the presence of normal serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1. In addition to catabolic effects of proinflammatory cytokines, these recent findings are consistent with reduced anabolism involving altered local insulin-like growth factor-1 levels in progressive muscle atrophy in chronic heart failure. This article describes local effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on skeletal muscle function and morphology, its role in stem cell recruitment and muscle regeneration as well as its regulation in circumstances of muscle inflammation and wasting.