Inverse correlation between seasonal changes in home blood pressure and atmospheric temperature in treated-hypertensive patients.

We examined the relationships between home blood pressure (BP) and atmospheric temperature in 20 treated-hypertensive patients. A significant correlation between morning and evening BP and atmospheric temperature was found. For morning systolic blood pressure (SBP), the maximal seasonal difference was 13.

Increased augmentation index of the radial pressure waveform in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The augmentation index, a marker of wave reflection, has been reported to reflect vascular properties and to determine left ventricular (LV) characteristics. We investigated the relationship between the augmentation index and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: A total of 244 outpatients (122 patients with paroxysmal AF and 122 age-, and gender-matched controls without paroxysmal AF) were examined during sinus rhythm.

Decision tree modeling predicts effects of inhibiting contractility signaling on cell motility.

Background: Computational models of cell signaling networks typically are aimed at capturing dynamics of molecular components to derive quantitative insights from prior experimental data, and to make predictions concerning altered dynamics under different conditions. However, signaling network models have rarely been used to predict how cell phenotypic behaviors result from the integrated operation of these networks. We recently developed a decision tree model for how EGF-induced fibroblast cell motility across two-dimensional fibronectin-coated surfaces depends on the integrated activation status of five key signaling nodes, including a proximal regulator of transcellular contractile force generation, MLC (myosin light chain) [Hautaniemi et al, Bioinformatics 21: 2027 {2005}], but we have not previously attempted predictions of new experimental effects from this model.

Motility signaled from the EGF receptor and related systems.

Cell motility is now recognized as central to many biological processes. Growth factors, such as those that activate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), drive biochemically and biologically distinct subsets of migration critical for (neo)organogenesis and tumor invasion. Thus, modulation of these events requires an understanding of the controls of EGFR-mediated motility.

Thrombospondin-1 is induced in rat myocardial infarction and its induction is accelerated by ischemia/reperfusion.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a multifunctional, rapid-turnover matricellular protein. Recent studies demonstrated that TSP-1 has a role in regulating inflammatory reactions. Myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with an inflammatory response, ultimately leading to healing and scar formation.

Modeling of signal-response cascades using decision tree analysis.

Motivation: Signal transduction cascades governing cell functional responses to stimulatory cues play crucial roles in cell regulatory systems and represent promising therapeutic targets for complex human diseases. however, mathematical analysis of how cell responses are governed by signaling activities is challenging due to their multivariate and non-linear nature. diverse computational methods are potentially available, but most are ineffective for protein-level data that is limited in extent and replication.

Epidermal growth factor induces fibroblast contractility and motility via a protein kinase C delta-dependent pathway.

Myosin-based cell contractile force is considered to be a critical process in cell motility. However, for epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced fibroblast migration, molecular links between EGF receptor (EGFR) activation and force generation have not been clarified. Herein, we demonstrate that EGF stimulation increases myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, a marker for contractile force, concomitant with protein kinase C (PKC) activity in mouse fibroblasts expressing human EGFR constructs.

Directional motility induced by epidermal growth factor requires Cdc42.

Cell motility is actuated by a host of intracellular signaling cascades that result in movement of the cell in one direction, even without an external gradient. Phospholipase C-gamma (PLCgamma) has been shown to be important for growth factor-induced lamellipodial protrusion at the front of the cell while Cdc42 has been implicated in both filopodium formation at the leading edge and control of polarity of migrating cells. We asked whether these asymmetries in effector molecules may be linked.

Increased expression of dermatopontin mRNA in the infarct zone of experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rats: comparison with decorin and type I collagen mRNAs.

Objectives: Dermatopontin, a 22 kDa extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, has been shown to interact with other ECM components, especially decorin, and to regulate ECM formation. We examined dermatopontin mRNA expression in the myocardial infarct zone.

Methods: The cDNA encoding the rat dermatopontin was cloned by RT-PCR based on screening results from the Expressed Sequence Tag database.

Concomitant expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor mRNA and basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA in myocardial infarction in rats.

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is mitogenic and chemotactic for many cell types. HB-EGF is induced in pathological states which require cell mitogenesis and proliferation, including angiogenesis, and has been reported to interact functionally with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). To test our hypothesis that HB-EGF mRNA expression is increased in myocardial infarction, we used Northern hybridization in rats to investigate the expression of HB-EGF and EGF receptor mRNAs expression in the infarct zone compared to the expression of bFGF and FGF receptor mRNAs.