Pathways

The Chemokine receptor CXCR4 is a 352 amino acid rhodopsin-like GPCR and selectively binds the CXC chemokine Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1 (SDF1) also known as CXCL12. Classically, two alternatively spliced isoforms of SDF have been identified. SDF1Alpha is an 89 amino acid protein that is the predominantly expressed form of SDF1 while SDF1Beta contains a four amino acid extension at the[..]

Adhesive interactions between cells and ECM (Extracellular Matrix) proteins play a vital role in biological processes, including cell survival, growth, differentiation, migration, inflammatory responses, platelet aggregation, tissue repair and tumor invasion and perturbing this coordination can lead to events such as malignant transformation. The major groups of proteins mediating these[..]

Fas (also called Apo1 or CD95) is a death domain-containing member of the TNFR (Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor) superfamily. It has a central role in the physiological regulation of Programmed Cell Death and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various malignancies and diseases of the immune system. Although the FasL (Fas Ligand)-Fas system has been appreciated mainly with respect to its[..]

One of the most fundamental issues in current biology is how to maintain the critical balance between cell survival and death, both during development and in adulthood. Unrestrained cell division and survival leads to various forms of tumor, while excessive or premature cell death may lead to a variety of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis. In the nervous[..]

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, plays a key role in many physiological and pathological processes, such as ovulation, embryogenesis, wound repair, inflammation, malignant tumor growth, retinopathies, rheumatoid arthritis, and angiogenesis-dependent diseases. One of the best-characterized modulators of angiogenesis is the heparin-binding FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor) (Ref.[..]

Proliferation and migration of VSMCs (Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells) in arteries plays an important role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and restenosis after angioplasty. A wide variety of growth factors, cytokines, and hormones activate these responses in blood vessels. A prominent growth factor for VSMCs is Angiotensin (Angiotensin-I and II), the main peptide of the[..]

The Notch signaling pathway is a fundamental signaling system used by neighboring cells to communicate with each other in order to assume their proper developmental role. Notch proteins are cell surface transmembrane-spanning receptors which mediate critically important cellular functions through direct cell-cell contact. Interaction between Notch and its proposed ligands initiates a signaling[..]

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a 28-kDa pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the Interleukin-6 (IL-6)familythat bears closest homology toleukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Human OSM (hOSM) is a252 amino acid precursor polypeptide that is mainly expressed by neutrophils, activated macrophages, dendritic cells and T-cells. OSM appears to play important role in diverse biological processes like development of[..]

Bone remodeling and homeostasis is an essential function that regulates skeletal integrity throughout adult life in higher vertebrates and mammals. The structural and metabolic integrity of bone is maintained through the dynamic process of bone remodeling that results from the coordinate action of bone resorption by osteoclasts and the formation of new bone by osteoblasts. Regulation of bone[..]

PDGF (Platelet-derived growth factor) isoforms stimulate growth, survival and motility of mesenchymal cells and certain other cell types. They have important functions during embryonal development and in the control of tissue homeostasis in the adult. Overactivity of PDGF signaling is associated with the development of certain malignant diseases, as well as non-malignant diseases characterized[..]

TGF-Beta (Transforming Growth Factor-Beta) superfamily of secreted polypeptide growth factors play an important role in a variety of pathophysiologic processes, including angiogenesis, vascular remodeling, atherogenesis and in regulating cellular responses such as growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, adhesion, survival, and specification of developmental fate. Apart from[..]

STATs (Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription) are a family of cytoplasmic proteins with SH2 (Src Homology-2) domains that act as signal messengers and transcription factors that mediate many aspects of cellular immunity, proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. The STAT family comprises seven members namely, STAT1, STAT2, STAT3,[..]