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Query: EC:3.2.1.23 (
beta-galactosidase
)
14,648
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Myoblasts were grown from monkey muscle biopsies and infected in vitro with a defective retroviral vector containing a cytoplasmic
beta-galactosidase
(beta-gal) gene. These myoblasts were then transplanted to 14 different monkeys, 6 of which were immunosuppressed with FK506. Without immunosuppression, only a few myoblasts and myotubes expressing beta-gal were observed 1 week after the transplantation, but no cells expressing beta-gal were observed after 4 weeks. This result was attributed to immune responses since infiltration by CD4+ or CD8+ lymphocytes was abundant 1 week after transplantation but not after 4 weeks. The expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 2 (IL-2), granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF),
transforming growth factor-beta
(
TGF-beta
) and granzyme B mRNAs was increased in the myoblast-injected muscle indicating that the infiltrating lymphocytes were activated. Moreover, antibodies against the donor myoblasts were detected in 3 out of 6 cases. When the monkeys were immunosuppressed with FK506, muscle fibers expressing
beta-galactosidase
(beta-gal) were present 1, 4 and 12 weeks after the transplantation. There was neither significant infiltration by CD4 or CD8 lymphocytes, nor antibodies detected. The mRNA expression of most cytokines was significantly reduced as compared to the nonimmunosuppressed monkeys. These results indicate that FK506 is effective in controlling short-term immune reactions following myoblast transplantation in monkeys and suggest that it may prove useful for myoblast transplantation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients.
...
PMID:Myoblast transplantation in monkeys: control of immune response by FK506. 864 94
Several lines of evidence suggest a role for laminin-5 in skin wound healing. We report here that
transforming growth factor-beta
(
TGF-beta
), which elicits various responses during cutaneous healing, stimulates transcription of the mouse laminin alpha3A (lama3A) gene. To identify the
TGF-beta
-responsive elements (TGFbeta-REs) on the lama3A promoter, we have generated a series of 5'-deletions of the promoter upstream of the
beta-galactosidase
reporter gene. Transient cell transfection assays using mouse PAM212 keratinocytes revealed that TGFbeta-REs lie between nucleotides -297 and -54 relative to the transcription start site. Insertion of the TGFbeta-RE in front of the unresponsive minimal SV40 promoter conferred
TGF-beta
inducibility. Computer analysis of the promoter sequence identified three canonical activator protein-1 (AP-1) sites located at nucleotides -277 (AP-1A), -125 (AP-1B), and -69 (AP-1C). Site-directed mutagenesis of either the AP-1A or AP-1C site did not drastically alter the basal activity of the lama3A promoter, but reduced
TGF-beta
responsiveness by 50%. Simultaneous mutation of these two AP-1 sites resulted in a 65% decline in the response to
TGF-beta
, suggesting a cooperative contribution of each site to the overall promoter activity. In contrast, mutation of the AP-1B site markedly reduced the basal activity of the lama3A promoter, indicating that this AP-1 site is essential for gene expression. Mobility shift assays demonstrated specific binding of Fra-2 and JunD to the AP-1 sites, suggesting for the first time a possible regulatory function for the Fra-2.JunD AP-1 complex in a basal keratinocyte-specific gene.
...
PMID:Three activator protein-1-binding sites bound by the Fra-2.JunD complex cooperate for the regulation of murine laminin alpha3A (lama3A) promoter activity by transforming growth factor-beta. 965 14
Bmp2, a highly conserved member of the
transforming growth factor-beta
gene family, is crucial for normal development. Retinoic acid, combined with cAMP analogs, sharply induces the Bmp2 mRNA during the differentiation of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells into parietal endoderm. Retinoic acid (RA) also induces the Bmp2 gene in chick limb buds. Since normal Bmp2 expression may require an endogenous retinoid signal and aberrant Bmp2 expression may cause some aspects of RA-induced teratogenesis, we studied the mechanism underlying the induction of Bmp2. Measurements of the Bmp2 mRNA half-life and nuclear run-on assays indicated that RA stimulated the transcription rate of the Bmp2 gene. The results of ribonuclease protection and primer extension assays indicated that Bmp2 transcription started 2,127 nucleotides upstream of the translation start site in F9 cells. To identify genetic elements controlling this transcription rate increase, upstream and downstream genomic sequences flanking the Bmp2 gene were screened using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter genes in F9 cells and
beta-galactosidase
reporter genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that were cotransformed with retinoic acid receptor and retinoid X receptor expression plasmids. RA-dependent transcriptional activation was detected between base pairs -2,373 and -2,316 relative to the translation start site. We also identified a required Sp1 binding site between -2,308 and -2,298. The data indicate that Bmp2 is directly regulated by retinoic acid-bound receptors and Sp1.
...
PMID:Transcriptional regulation of the Bmp2 gene. Retinoic acid induction in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 988 May 12
In previous studies, RGD-CAP (collagen-associated protein containing the RGD sequence) isolated from a collagen fiber-rich fraction of pig cartilage was found to be orthologous to human (beta)ig-h3, which is synthesized by lung adenocarcinoma cells in response to
transforming growth factor-beta
. In the present study, we examined the effect of recombinant chick RGD-CAP on the spreading of chondrocytes and fibroblasts using RGD-CAP-coated dishes. When rabbit articular chondrocytes, chick embryonic sternal chondrocytes, rabbit peritoneal fibroblasts or human MRC5 fibroblasts were seeded on plastic dishes coated with RGD-CAP, cell spreading was enhanced compared with that on control dishes (bovine serum albumin- or
beta-galactosidase
-coated dishes). The effect of RGD-CAP on the cell spreading required divalent cations (Mg(2+) or Mn(2+)), and was reduced by EDTA. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the human integrin alpha(1) or beta(1) subunit, but not to the alpha(2), alpha(3), alpha(5) or beta(2) subunits, suppressed the RGD-CAP-induced spreading of human MRC5 fibroblasts. In a parallel experiment, the mAb to the alpha(5) subunit, but not the mAb to the alpha(1) subunit, suppressed fibronectin-induced spreading of these cells. These findings suggest that RGD-CAP is a novel ligand for integrin alpha(1)beta(1) that dose not bind to the RGD motif. Accordingly, an RGD-CAP fragment, which carries a deletion in the C-terminal region containing the RGD motif, was still capable of stimulating cell spreading.
...
PMID:RGD-CAP ((beta)ig-h3) enhances the spreading of chondrocytes and fibroblasts via integrin alpha(1)beta(1). 1044 1
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has poor capabilities of healing. Maturation or "ligamentization" of the ACL following autograft or allograft reconstruction has been found slow and remains under investigation. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF),
transforming growth factor-beta
(
TGF-beta
), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have the potential to improve ligament healing. Gene therapy approaches may represent a new alternative in delivering these specific growth factors to the ACL. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of three different gene therapy approaches (direct-, fibroblast-, and myoblast-mediated gene transfer) to the ACL. Rabbit myoblasts and ACL-fibroblasts were transduced with 5 x 10(7) recombinant adenoviral particles carrying the LacZ reporter gene (MOI = 50). Myoblasts and fibroblasts (1 x 10(6)) were each injected into the right ACL of 10 adult rabbits; direct injection of 5 x 10(7) adenoviral particles was performed in 10 other rabbits. The left side was used as sham. The
beta-galactosidase
production was revealed using the LacZ histochemical technique. The transduced fibroblasts and myoblasts were found in the ligament tissue and in the synovial tissue surrounding the ACL at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postinjection. The myoblasts fused and formed myotubes in the ligament. The direct approach also allowed the transfer of the marker gene in the ligament at 4, 7, 21, and 42 days postinjection. X-gal staining revealed no expression of
beta-galactosidase
in the sham ligament. The presence of cells expressing the marker gene in the ACL opens up the possibility of delivering proteins (i.e., PDGF,
TGF-beta
, and EGF) capable of improving ACL healing and graft maturation. Furthermore, engineered myoblasts may mediate and accelerate the intraligament neovascularization. This new technology based on gene therapy and tissue engineering may allow a persistent expression of selected growth factors to enhance ACL healing following injury.
...
PMID:Direct-, fibroblast- and myoblast-mediated gene transfer to the anterior cruciate ligament. 1058 99
Vascular injury stimulates the cytokine-growth factor network in the vascular wall, including
transforming growth factor-beta
(
TGF-beta
). Reportedly, the intracellular signaling of
TGF-beta
is mediated by Smad proteins. We tested the effects of the ectopic expression of inhibitory Smads in cultured rat smooth muscle cells (SMC) to identify the role of
TGF-beta
/Smad signaling on the phenotypic modulation of SMC. The cells exposed to human recombinant TGF-beta1 (10 ng/ml) were stimulated Smad2 phosphorylation. Infection with the replication-deficient adenovirus vector expressing Smad7, but not bacterial
beta-galactosidase
or Smad6, was found to inhibit
TGF-beta
-induced Smad2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner.
TGF-beta
suppressed the serum-induced proliferation of SMC from 36.3% to 51.0% (p<0.01), as measured by hand-counting, and this inhibition was attenuated by the ectopic expression of Smad7 (from 30.7% to 74.8% of the reduction of
TGF-beta
-response, p<0.05), but not Smad6. A BrdU incorporation assay also showed that
TGF-beta
-mediated growth inhibition was attenuated by exogenous Smad7 and that this inhibition can be reversed by an additional expression of exogenous Smad2.
TGF-beta
increased the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and myosin heavy chain by 1.3-fold and 1.6-fold in comparison to the control, respectively, and these increases were attenuated by exogenous Smad7, but not Smad6. Our data indicate that Smads mediate
TGF-beta
responses on SMC phenotypes. Smad7, but not Smad6, may specifically act as an inhibitor of
TGF-beta
responses.
...
PMID:Ectopic expression of Smad7 inhibits transforming growth factor-beta responses in vascular smooth muscle cells. 1171 67
Endoglin is an auxiliary receptor for the
transforming growth factor-beta
family of cytokines and is required for angiogenesis and heart development. Endoglin expression during mouse embryogenesis was analysed by monitoring
beta-galactosidase
expression from a lacZ reporter cassette inserted downstream of the endoglin promoter. Expression was first detected at 6.5 days post-coitum (dpc) in the amniotic fold and developing allantois. Between 7.5 and 8.5 dpc, endoglin was expressed in endothelial cells of the yolk sac, dorsal aorta and primitive heart tube, and from 9.5 to 13.5 dpc in endothelial cells throughout the developing vasculature. Interestingly, this pattern of endoglin expression is almost identical to that reported for Alk1.
...
PMID:Endoglin expression in early development is associated with vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. 1174 82
The lysosomal enzymes N-acetylglucosaminidase (N-ACGA) and
beta-galactosidase
(beta-gal) are involved in cellular collagen metabolism and may, therefore, be markers of fibrosis in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). N-ACGA and beta-gal were analyzed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with the histologic pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP, n=10) and controls (n=9). Cellular distribution in BALF as well as the concentration of
TGF-beta
a well-known mediator of fibroblast matrix deposition were correlated to the enzyme activities in both groups of patients. We found that both, N-ACGA (UIP: 25.2 nmol/l s +/- 3.4; controls: 73 nmol/l s +/- 1.3) and beta-gal (UIP: 4.7 nmol/l s +/- 0.5; controls: 2.4 nmol/l s +/- 0.3) were elevated significantly in BALF of patients with IPF compared to that of control patients (P<0.003). This increase was paralleled by an increase in neutrophils (IPF: 17.9% +/- 21.8; controls: 5.4% +/- 6.3; P=0.03) and eosinophils (IPF: 2.0% +/- 1.5; controls: 0.2% +/- 0.45; P=0.002) in BALF fluid. In addition, N-ACGA activity correlated closely with lung function (FVC, TLC, and DLCO),
transforming growth factor-beta
(
TGF-beta
) in BALF (r=0.77, P=0.008) and activated lymphocytes (r=0.66, P=0.0021). Our findings suggest that measurement of lysosomal enzymes such as N-ACGA may represent a useful indicator of fibrotic activity in IPF.
...
PMID:BALF N-acetylglucosaminidase and beta-galactosidase activities in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. 1224 23
Decorin is a small proteoglycan that binds to
transforming growth factor-beta
(
TGF-beta
) and inhibits its activity. However, its interaction with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), involved in arterial repair after injury, is not well characterized. The objectives of this study were to assess decorin-PDGF and decorin-PDGF receptor (PDGFR) interactions, the in vitro effects of decorin on PDGF-stimulated smooth muscle cell (SMC) functions and the in vivo effects of decorin overexpression on arterial repair in a rabbit carotid balloon-injury model. Decorin binding to PDGF was demonstrated by solid-phase binding and affinity cross-linking assays. Decorin potently inhibited PDGF-stimulated PDGFR phosphorylation. Pretreatment of rabbit aortic SMC with decorin significantly inhibited PDGF-stimulated cell migration, proliferation, and collagen synthesis. Decorin overexpression by adenoviral-mediated gene transfection in balloon-injured carotid arteries significantly decreased intimal cross-sectional area and collagen content by approximately 50% at 10 weeks compared to
beta-galactosidase
-transfected or balloon-injured, non-transfected controls. This study shows that decorin binds to PDGF and inhibits its stimulatory activity on SMCs by preventing PDGFR phosphorylation. Decorin overexpression reduces intimal hyperplasia and collagen content after arterial injury. Decorin may be an effective therapy for the prevention of intimal hyperplasia after balloon angioplasty.
...
PMID:Decorin inhibition of PDGF-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cell function: potential mechanism for inhibition of intimal hyperplasia after balloon angioplasty. 1293 28
Molecular changes associated with cellular senescence in human diploid fibroblasts (HDF), IMR-90, were analyzed by two-dimensional differential proteome analysis. A high percentage of replicative senescent cells were positive for senescence-associated
beta-galactosidase
activity, and displayed elevated levels of p21 and p53 proteins. Comparison of early population doubling level (PDL) versus replicative senescent cells among the 1000 spots resolved on gels revealed that the signal intensities of six spots were increased fivefold, whereas those of four spots were decreased. Proteome analysis data demonstrated that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is an age-associated protein. Up-regulation of CTGF expression in senescent cells was further confirmed by Western blotting and RT-PCR. We postulate that CTGF expression is controlled, in part, by
transforming growth factor-beta
(
TGF-beta
), in view of the high levels of
TGF-beta
isoforms as well as type I and II receptors detected only in late PDL of HDF cells. To verify this hypothesis, we stimulated early PDL cells with TGF-beta1 as well as stress inducing agents such as hydrogen peroxide. As expected, CTGF expression and Smad protein phosphorylation were dramatically increased up to observed levels in normal replicative senescent cells. In vivo experiments disclosed that CTGF, pSmad, and p53 were constitutively expressed at basal levels in up to 18-month-old rat liver, and expression was significantly up-regulated in 24-month-old rat tissue. However, expression patterns were not altered at all periods examined in livers of caloric-restricted rats. In view of both in vitro and in vivo data, we propose that the
TGF-beta
/Smad pathway functions in the induction of CTGF, a novel biomarker protein of cellular senescence in human fibroblasts.
...
PMID:Expression of connective tissue growth factor, a biomarker in senescence of human diploid fibroblasts, is up-regulated by a transforming growth factor-beta-mediated signaling pathway. 1514 44
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