An arthroscopic approach for the treatment of osteochondral focal defects with cell-free and cell-loaded PLGA scaffolds in sheep.

Osteochondral injuries are common in humans and are relatively difficult to manage with current treatment options. The combination of novel biomaterials and expanded progenitor or stem cells provides a source of therapeutic and immunologically compatible medicines that can be used in regenerative medicine. However, such new medicinal products need to be tested in translational animal models using the intended route of administration in humans and the intended delivery device.

Germline mutations in NF1 and BRCA1 in a family with neurofibromatosis type 1 and early-onset breast cancer.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common dominant autosomal disorder caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. The main manifestations of NF1 are café-au-lait spots, neurofibromas, intertriginous freckling, Lisch nodules, and malignancy, including peripheral nerve sheath tumors, central nervous system gliomas, and a variety of other tumors not so clearly defined. The association between NF1 and breast cancer or other gynecologic malignancies seems uncommon and has been scarcely referred in the literature.

Characterization of plasminogen binding to NB4 promyelocytic cells using monoclonal antibodies against receptor-induced binding sites in cell-bound plasminogen.

The NB4 promyelocytic cell line exhibits many of the characteristics of acute promyelocytic leukemia blast cells, including the translocation (15 : 17) that fuses the PML gene on chromosome 15 to the RARα gene on chromosome 17. These cells have a very high fibrinolytic capacity. In addition to a high secretion of urokinase, NB4 cells exhibit a 10-fold higher plasminogen binding capacity compared with other leukemic cell lines.

Monoclonal antibodies against receptor-induced binding sites detect cell-bound plasminogen in blood.

Binding of Glu-plasminogen (the native, circulating form of the zymogen) to cells results in enhancement of its activation. Cell-associated plasmin proteolytic activity is a key component of physiologic and pathologic processes requiring extracellular matrix degradation. Recently, we developed antiplasminogen mAbs that recognize receptor-induced binding sites (RIBS) in Glu-plasminogen and, therefore, preferentially react with cell-associated Glu-plasminogen in the presence of soluble Glu-plasminogen.

Nature and mRNA effect of 282 different NF1 point mutations: focus on splicing alterations.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. In this paper we report our experience using the cDNA-SSCP/HD analysis as a mutational screening approach and the double characterization of all mutations at the DNA and RNA levels. Two hundred and eighty-two different mutations (in 374 independent patients) were identified, 140 of which were novel in our population.