The glucose transporter isoform 1 (GLUT1) is a key rate-limiting factor in the transport and metabolism of glucose in cancer cells. Recently, we found that GLUT1 expression is increased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and promotes tumorigenicity of HCC cells. Hypoxia further increased GLUT1 expression in HCC cells, and this induction was dependent on the activation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFactors influencing the initiation or progression of sclerosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are poorly understood. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is a potent chemokine, which is upregulated in fibroblasts during development of sclerosis. In this study, we investigated the frequency of the functional -2518G MCP-1 promoter polymorphism in 18 patients with SSc and 139 healthy controls.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMelanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) is an 11 kD protein secreted by malignant melanomas. Recent studies revealed an interaction of MIA with epitopes of extracellular matrix proteins including fibronectin. Structural homology of MIA with the binding sites of alpha4beta1 integrin results in complex interactions of MIA with molecules binding to alpha4beta1 integrin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with localized scleroderma receiving topical photodynamic therapy with 5-aminolevulinic acid show a reduction in skin tightness, suggesting that this therapy reduces skin sclerosis. To investigate potential mechanisms, the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid and light on collagen metabolism were studied in vitro. Normal and scleroderma fibroblasts were treated with sublethal doses of 5-aminolevulinic acid and red light and transferred to three-dimensional collagen lattices.
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