Tocotrienols-induced inhibition of platelet thrombus formation and platelet aggregation in stenosed canine coronary arteries.

Background: Dietary supplementation with tocotrienols has been shown to decrease the risk of coronary artery disease. Tocotrienols are plant-derived forms of vitamin E, which have potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, and neuroprotective properties. Our objective in this study was to determine the extent to which tocotrienols inhibit platelet aggregation and reduce coronary thrombosis, a major risk factor for stroke in humans.

Activation of protein kinase-C differentially regulates insulin-like growth factor-I and basic fibroblast growth factor messenger RNA levels.

Fibroblasts represent one of the in vivo sites of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) production. In this study rat dermal fibroblasts in culture were used as a model system to assess the effect of activation of protein kinase-C on the levels of the mRNAs encoding IGF-I and another growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). IGF-I and bFGF mRNA levels were determined using a solution hybridization/RNase protection assay.

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor I production in rat C6 glioma cells: possible role as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor.

The growth of rat glioma C6 cells, which provide an in vitro model of glial cells, is inhibited by retinoic acid and glucocorticoids, two agents which are important in brain differentiation and growth. To determine whether the growth-inhibitory effects of these agents are mediated by alterations in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) production, the effects of retinoic acid and dexamethasone on IGF-I production and messenger RNA levels in C6 cells were investigated. IGF-I mRNA levels were determined using a solution hybridization/RNase protection assay.

Tissue-specific regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA levels by diabetes.

Because basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is recognized as an angiogenic factor and diabetes is characterized by multiple vascular complications, including diabetic microangiopathy, we examined the regulation of tissue bFGF mRNA levels by diabetes. Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by injection of 125 mg/kg body wt i.v.

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor I messenger ribonucleic acid levels by serum in cultured rat fibroblasts.

Fibroblasts represent one of the in vivo sites of extrahepatic insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) production. In this study, cultured fibroblasts prepared from the skin of neonatal rats were used as a model to assess the role of serum in regulating IGF-I messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. IGF-I mRNA, as demonstrated by Northern blot analysis, was present in the cultured fibroblasts, and serum free media which was conditioned by fibroblasts for 20 h contained 108 pg/ml of immunoreactive IGF-I.