Stromal fibroblasts in colorectal liver metastases originate from resident fibroblasts and generate an inflammatory microenvironment.

Cancer-associated stromal fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main cellular constituents of reactive stroma in primary and metastatic cancer. We analyzed phenotypical characteristics of CAFs from human colorectal liver metastases (CLMs) and their role in inflammation and cancer progression. CAFs displayed a vimentin(+), alpha-smooth-muscle actin(+), and Thy-1(+) phenotype similar to resident portal-located liver fibroblasts (LFs).

Functional characterization of atherosclerosis-associated Ser128Arg and Leu554Phe E-selectin mutations.

The cellular adhesion molecule E-selectin is expressed on activated endothelial cells, and is involved in the process of adherence of blood cells to vessel endothelium in inflammatory events such as atherosclerosis. In a recent study we found a Ser128Arg mutation in the EGF domain as well as a Leu554Phe mutation in the membrane domain of E-selectin. We also established increased frequencies of both mutations among young patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis.

Relationship of polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system and in E-selectin of patients with early severe coronary heart disease.

Previous association studies between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensinogen (AGT) polymorphisms and several cardiovascular diseases have reported variable results. Therefore we examined the association of the DNA variants of ACE and AGT with early, severe coronary heart disease (CHD). In addition, we compared the genotypes of both polymorphisms and the recently discovered polymorphism in the E-selectin gene in both patients and an unselected population.

Mapping of a human rRNA gene in the YAC contig surrounding the SMA candidate gene.

Using the yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) 116 flanking the autosomal recessive spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) gene region, we have screened a human fetal brain cDNA library and isolated the cDNA clone 14-3/9 with an insert size of 2.5 kb. The cDNA clone could be identified as part of the human rRNA gene coding for 28S rRNA with a total size of 5025 bp.