Mast cells are an effector cell that plays a pivotal role in type I hypersensitive immune responses. Mast cells exist in connective tissues, such as skin and mucosal tissue, and contain granules which contain bioactive substances such as histamine and heparin in cells. The granules of mast cells are secreted by antigen stimulation to cause the type I allergic hypersensitivity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochem Biophys Res Commun
September 2018
HOX genes are transcription factors that play important roles in body patterning and many cellular processes during embryonic, fetal, and adult development. Given their important function in normal tissues, it is reasonable to assume that abnormal expression of HOX genes in adults could lead to serious diseases such as cancer. Our previous study reported HOXB5 to be significantly up-regulated in breast cancer, and its expression was found to be associated with tumor cell proliferation and invasion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai)
July 2017
Hox genes are responsible for encoding transcription factors that are essential for anterior-posterior body patterning at early stages of embryogenesis. However, detailed mechanisms of Hox genes are yet to be defined. Protein kinase B alpha (Akt1) was previously identified as a possible upstream regulator of Hox genes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHOX genes encode a family of transcriptional regulators that are involved in pattern formation and organogenesis during embryo development. In addition, these genes play important roles in adult tissues and some of the dysregulated HOX genes are associated with cancer development and metastasis. Like many other HOX genes, HOXC9 is aberrantly expressed in certain breast cancer cell lines and tissues; however, its specific functions in breast cancer progression were not investigated.
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