Microarray analyses of the effects of NF-kappaB or PI3K pathway inhibitors on the LPS-induced gene expression profile in RAW264.7 cells: synergistic effects of rapamycin on LPS-induced MMP9-overexpression.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates a broad range of signalling pathways including mainly NF-kappaB and the MAPK cascade, but recent evidence suggests that LPS stimulation also activates the PI3K pathway. To unravel the specific roles of both pathways in LPS signalling and gene expression profiling, we investigated the effects of different inhibitors of NF-kappaB (BAY 11-7082), PI3K (wortmannin and LY294002) but also of mTOR (rapamycin), a kinase acting downstream of PI3K/Akt, in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, analyzing their effects on the LPS-induced gene expression profile using a low density DNA microarray designed to monitor the expression of pro-inflammatory genes.

Overexpression of the soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor in preeclamptic patients: pathophysiological consequences.

Several growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and placental growth factor (PlGF) are involved in the placental vascular development. We investigated whether dysregulation in the VEGF family may explain the defective uteroplacental vascularization characterizing preeclampsia. We compared pregnancies complicated by early onset severe preeclampsia or intrauterine growth retardation to normal pregnancies.