LRG1 Promotes Metastatic Dissemination of Melanoma through Regulating EGFR/STAT3 Signalling.

Although less common, melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer largely due to its highly metastatic nature. Currently, there are limited treatment options for metastatic melanoma and many of them could cause serious side effects. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the complex disease pathophysiology of metastatic melanoma may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and facilitate the development of targeted therapeutics.

A Multifunctional Role of Leucine-Rich α-2-Glycoprotein 1 in Cutaneous Wound Healing Under Normal and Diabetic Conditions.

Delayed wound healing is commonly associated with diabetes. It may lead to amputation and death if not treated in a timely fashion. Limited treatments are available partially due to the poor understanding of the complex disease pathophysiology.

Collaborative Regulation of LRG1 by TGF-β1 and PPAR-β/δ Modulates Chronic Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis.

Background: Despite its established significance in fibrotic cardiac remodeling, clinical benefits of global inhibition of TGF (transforming growth factor)-β1 signaling remain controversial. LRG1 (leucine-rich-α2 glycoprotein 1) is known to regulate endothelial TGFβ signaling. This study evaluated the role of LRG1 in cardiac fibrosis and its transcriptional regulatory network in cardiac fibroblasts.

Transdermal delivery of small interfering RNAs with topically applied mesoporous silica nanoparticles for facile skin cancer treatment.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising tool for the treatment of skin disorders including skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This article develops a topical formulation for the transdermal delivery of siRNA. The formulation is built on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) with a loading capacity of 1.

The Role of PPARβ/δ in Melanoma Metastasis.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator⁻activated receptor (PPAR) β/δ, a ligand-activated transcription factor, is involved in diverse biological processes including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, inflammation and energy homeostasis. Besides its well-established roles in metabolic disorders, PPARβ/δ has been linked to carcinogenesis and was reported to inhibit melanoma cell proliferation, anchorage-dependent clonogenicity and ectopic xenograft tumorigenicity. However, PPARβ/δ's role in tumour progression and metastasis remains controversial.