Discovery of a transforming growth factor-β1 inhibitory peptide, Charis 1000 to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and invasive subtype of breast cancer for which chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel (PTX), remains a primary treatment option. However, resistance to chemotherapy poses a significant challenge, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to address PTX resistance in TNBC by developing a peptide drug, Charis 1000 (C1K), designed to target transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling.

Anabolic effects of Peniel 2000, a peptide that regulates TGF-β1 signaling on intervertebral disc degeneration.

Study Design: An in vitro study with bovine intervertebral disc (IVD) cells and an in vivo study with a rabbit disc degeneration model on the extracellular matrix metabolism by a biglycan-derived peptide (Peniel 2000; P2K).

Objective: To investigate the mechanism for P2K-induced increases in extracellular matrix and in vitro and in vivo effects of the peptide on IVD.

Summary Of Background Data: Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has a functional versatility on the metabolism of IVD cells, suggesting that the regulation of TGF-β signaling is important in IVD degeneration.

Complete genome sequence of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium Alteromonas sp. strain SN2.

Alteromonas sp. strain SN2, able to metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was isolated from a crude oil-contaminated sea-tidal flat. Here we report the complete 4.

Perceptron learning of pairwise contact energies for proteins incorporating the amino acid environment.

Although a coarse-grained description of proteins is a simple and convenient way to attack the protein folding problem, the construction of a global pairwise energy function which can simultaneously recognize the native folds of many proteins has resulted in partial success. We have sought the possibility of a systematic improvement of this pairwise-contact energy function as we extended the parameter space of amino acids, incorporating local environments of amino acids, beyond a 20 x 20 matrix. We have studied the pairwise contact energy functions of 20 x 20, 60 x 60, and 180 x 180 matrices depending on the extent of parameter space, and compared their effect on the learnability of energy parameters in the context of a gapless threading, bearing in mind that a 20 x 20 pairwise contact matrix has been shown to be too simple to recognize the native folds of many proteins.

Synergistic induction of in vivo angiogenesis by the combination of insulin-like growth factor-II and epidermal growth factor.

Tumor growth is accelerated by induction of angiogenesis regulated by many cytokines and growth factors. In a tumor mass, various angiogenic factors and their receptors are simultaneously expressed and the overlapped expressions of various factors may contribute to the aggressive growth of tumor. However, the possible combined effect and mechanism of growth factors involved in angiogenesis are still under investigated.

Hepatitis B virus X protein induces angiogenesis by stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha.

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is closely involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, a highly vascularized solid tumor. Here we show that HBx increases the transcriptional activity and protein level of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions, and it also stimulates angiogenesis. HBx directly interacted with the bHLH/PAS domain of HIF-1alpha but not with the von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL).

Identification of novel anti-angiogenic factors by in silico functional gene screening method.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels out of pre-existing capillaries, occurs in a variety of pathophysiological conditions, and is regulated by a balance of angiogenic activators and inhibitors. To identify novel angiogenic factors, we developed a gene screening method by combining the prediction analysis of transcription factor (TF) binding site and the chromosomal localization analysis. First, we analyzed the promoter sequences from known angiogenesis-related factors using the MATINSPECTOR program in TRANSFAC database.

Anti-angiogenic activity of conjugated linoleic acid on basic fibroblast growth factor-induced angiogenesis.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a potent inhibitor of mammary carcinogenesis. Cancer cells produce various angiogenic factors which stimulate host vascular endothelial cell mitogenesis and chemotaxis for their growth and metastasis. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent angiogenic factor that is expressed in many tumors.

AngioDB: database of angiogenesis and angiogenesis-related molecules.

Angiogenesis is the formation of new capillaries sprouting from pre-existing vessels. Angiogenesis occurs in a variety of normal physiological and pathological conditions and is regulated by a balance of stimulatory and inhibitory angiogenic factors. The control of this balance may fail and result in the formation of a pathologic capillary network during the development of many diseases.