Publications by authors named "Raquel Bienes-Martinez"

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a multifunctional matrix protein with antitumor activities due in part to its ability to inhibit angiogenesis, which in turn contributes to determine the fate of many tumours. Previous studies have shown that TSP-1 expression supports normal kidney angiostasis, and decreased TSP-1 levels contribute to the angiogenic phenotype of renal cell carcinomas (RCC). The loss of the von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor gene (VHL) in these tumours favours stabilization of the Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIF), which in turn contribute to adapt tumour cells to hostile environments promoting tumour progression.

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Senescent cells withdraw from the cell cycle and do not proliferate. The prevalence of senescent compared to normally functioning parenchymal cells increases with age, impairing tissue and organ homeostasis. A contentious principle governing this process has been the redox theory of aging.

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Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) is an adhesion molecule assigned to the activated endothelium mediating immune cells adhesion and extravasation. However, its expression in renal carcinomas inversely correlates with tumor malignancy. Our experiments in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cell lines demonstrated that von Hippel Lindau (VHL) loss, hypoxia, or PHD (for prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing proteins) inactivation decreased VCAM-1 levels through a transcriptional mechanism that was independent of the hypoxia-inducible factor and dependent on the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.

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Aims: Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is a ligand for CD47 and TSP1 mice are protected from pulmonary hypertension (PH). We hypothesized the TSP1-CD47 axis is upregulated in human PH and promotes pulmonary arterial vasculopathy.

Methods And Results: We analyzed the molecular signature and functional response of lung tissue and distal pulmonary arteries (PAs) from individuals with (n = 23) and without (n = 16) PH.

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Thrombospondin-1 is a matricellular protein with potent antitumour activities, the levels of which determine the fate of many different tumours, including renal carcinomas. However, the factors that regulate this protein remain unclear. In renal carcinomas, hypoxic conditions enhance the expression of angiogenic factors that help adapt tumour cells to their hostile environment.

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15-Deoxy-delta12,14-prostaglandin-J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) has potent anti-inflammatory effects including the inhibition of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in several cell types. 15d-PGJ(2) contains an alpha,beta-unsaturated electrophilic ketone and several evidences suggest that thiol reducing agents prevent or revert the cellular effects of 15d-PGJ(2). The present study was devoted to analyze the effect of 15d-PGJ(2) on COX-2 expression in cultured human mesangial cells (HMC).

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