Publications by authors named "S RAFII"

The interplay between immune cells and malignant cells represents an essential chapter in the eradication of breast cancer. This widely distributed and diverse form of cancer represents a major threat to women worldwide. The incidence of breast cancer is related to several risk factors, notably genetic predisposition and family antecedents.

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Background: Most organs are maintained lifelong by resident stem/progenitor cells. During development and regeneration, lineage-specific stem/progenitor cells can contribute to the growth or maintenance of different organs, whereas fully differentiated mature cells have less regenerative potential. However, it is unclear whether vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are also replenished by stem/progenitor cells with EC-repopulating potential residing in blood vessels.

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Plasticity among cell lineages is a fundamental, but poorly understood, property of regenerative tissues. In the gut tube, the small intestine absorbs nutrients, whereas the colon absorbs electrolytes. In a striking display of inherent plasticity, adult colonic mucosa lacking the chromatin factor SATB2 is converted to small intestine.

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Article Synopsis
  • Glomerular filtration is dependent on a specific collagen type IV network, which includes the α3, α4, and α5 chains; mutations in these genes lead to Alport syndrome (AS) and impaired kidney function.
  • A study identified that podocytes create α3 chains in the glomerular basement membrane, and lacking these chains severely disrupts filtration, mirroring AS symptoms.
  • Researchers discovered that horizontal gene transfer techniques, enhanced by TGFβ1 and using stem cells, can restore α3 chain expression and improve kidney function in mice with Col4a3 deficiency, suggesting potential for cell-based therapies in treating AS.
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