Progranulin promotes osteogenic differentiation of periodontal membrane stem cells in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions.

Objective: The growth factor progranulin (PGRN) is widely expressed and plays important roles in anti-inflammatory signaling and bone regeneration. However, the anti-inflammatory and pro-osteogenic roles of PGRN in periodontitis are seldom studied. We used an model to investigate whether PGRN can promote osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs).

Curcumin suppresses the proliferation and tumorigenicity of Cal27 by modulating cancer-associated fibroblasts of TSCC.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are "activated" fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and play a vital role in all steps of cancer development. Increasing evidence focusing on the function of CAFs suggests that CAFs are candidate therapeutic targets and that drugs targeting the modification of CAFs would suppress tumor progression and be beneficial to tumor treatment and prevention. In the present study, we found that curcumin reversed the phenotype of CAFs to that of peri-tumor fibroblast (PTF)-like cells by downregulating the expression of α-SMA (a special marker for CAFs) and inhibiting the secretion of pro-carcinogenic cytokines, including transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP2), and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1).

Expression of neuritin in human lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the expression of neuritin in four common cancers, and to explore the association between neuritin expression and the occurrence and development of cancer.

Methods: We initially examined neuritin expression in human cervical, endometrial, oesophageal, and lung cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Based on these results, we further examined its expression in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) tissues by IHC and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Cancer associated fibroblasts are distinguishable from peri-tumor fibroblasts by biological characteristics in TSCC.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the differential biological characteristics between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and peri-tumor fibroblasts (PTFs) in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). The primary CAFs and PTFs from TSCC were obtained and purified. Cell morphology was observed, and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin and cytokeratin 19 (CK19) was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Osteoblast Progenitors Enhance Osteogenic Differentiation of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells.

Background: Osteoblasts and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) play an important role in maintaining physiologic function of periodontal tissues and participating in periodontal regeneration. Elucidation of interactions between osteoblasts and PDLSCs will aid understanding of periodontal regeneration mechanisms. This study aims to determine whether preosteoblasts can promote osteoblastic/cementoblastic differentiation of PDLSCs.

Differential effects of p38 and Erk1/2 on the chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells.

The extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) and p38 mitogen‑activated protein‑kinase pathways serve important roles in the regulation of osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, the exact mechanism remains unclear, and the effect is controversial. In the present study, the effects of Erk1/2 and p38 on the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) were compared in vitro.

[The association between chronic periodontitis and hypertension in rural adult Uygur residents].

Objective: To explore the association between chronic periodontitis and hypertension in rural adult Uygur residents.

Methods: A total of 1415 Uygur residents aged 18 and over were selected by random multistage and probability proportional to size from 364 villages in Moyu county of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, all subjects received questionnaire, physical examination and biochemical analysis and oral examination. The subjects were categorized as periodontitis group and no periodontitis group, the periodontitis group was further categorized as mild, moderate and severe periodontitis subgroup.