Three-dimensional culture of mouse renal carcinoma cells in agarose macrobeads selects for a subpopulation of cells with cancer stem cell or cancer progenitor properties.

The culture of tumor cell lines in three-dimensional scaffolds is considered to more closely replicate the in vivo tumor microenvironment than the standard method of two-dimensional cell culture. We hypothesized that our method of encapsulating and maintaining viable and functional pancreatic islets in agarose-agarose macrobeads (diameter 6-8 mm) might provide a novel method for the culture of tumor cell lines. In this report we describe and characterize tumor colonies that form within macrobeads seeded with mouse renal adenocarcinoma cells.

Hydrophilic agarose macrobead cultures select for outgrowth of carcinoma cell populations that can restrict tumor growth.

Cancer cells and their associated tumors have long been considered to exhibit unregulated proliferation or growth. However, a substantial body of evidence indicates that tumor growth is subject to both positive and negative regulatory controls. Here, we describe a novel property of tumor growth regulation that is neither species nor tumor-type specific.

Molecular and cellular basis of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention: the intertwining roles of platelets, leukocytes, and the coagulation-fibrinolysis system.

The major limitation of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is restenosis. Restenosis is considered to be an overreaction of the natural healing process after traumatic balloon dilatation. An elaborate web of cellular and molecular responses, including the interaction of platelets, leukocytes, and the coagulation-fibrinolysis system, as well as the secretion of various growth factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines, contributes to neointimal hyperplasia and the development of restenosis.

Protein-free phospholipid emulsion treatment improved cardiopulmonary function and survival in porcine sepsis.

Lipoprotein phospholipid (PL) plays a major role in neutralization of endotoxin. This study tested the hypothesis that prophylactic administration of a PL-enriched emulsion (PRE), which augments PL content of serum lipoproteins and neutralizes endotoxin in vitro, would preserve cardiovascular function and improve survival in porcine septic peritonitis. A control group was compared with low-, mid-, and high-dose treatment groups that received PRE by primed continuous infusion for 48 h.