Cytokeratin 5 determines maturation of the mammary myoepithelium.

At invasion, transformed mammary epithelial cells expand into the stroma through a disrupted myoepithelial (ME) cell layer and basement membrane (BM). The intact ME cell layer has thus been suggested to act as a barrier against invasion. Here, we investigate the mechanisms behind the disruption of ME cell layer.

Virus as Renal Functional Genetic Tools.

Viral vectors enable efficient transfection of ectopic DNA into hard to transfect cells. Viral vectors are normally used to obtain permanent modification of target cells, and tissues expect for the cases where integrase-deficient viruses are used. Here we describe a method to stably transfect metanephric mesenchyme cells isolated from the murine embryonic kidney at day E11.

α6β1- and αV-integrins are required for long-term self-renewal of murine embryonic stem cells in the absence of LIF.

Background: The growth properties and self-renewal capacity of embryonic stem (ES) cells are regulated by their immediate microenvironment such as the extracellular matrix (ECM). Integrins, a central family of cellular ECM receptors, have been implicated in these processes but their specific role in ES cell self-renewal remains unclear.

Results: Here we have studied the effects of different ECM substrates and integrins in mouse ES cells in the absence of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) using short-term assays as well as long-term cultures.

Presence of 46 kDa gelatinase on the outer membrane of Leptospira.

Leptospira infection involves the adhesion of the bacteria followed by invasion of the host crossing the extracellular matrix barrier. In an effort to understand the molecular mechanism of this process, the possibility of occurrence of matrix degrading enzymes from Leptospira was investigated. Zymographic analysis showed that the outer membrane of Leptospires contains a gelatinase of average molecular size of 46 kDa.

A zymography analysis of proteinase activity present in Leptospira.

Leptospirosis is a major public health problem caused by spirochete Leptospira which is an extracellular pathogen. During infection and invasion, the bacteria cross the physical barriers and later it encounter with the host defence mechanism. These processes may involve proteolytic degradation of the host tissue biomatrix.