Keratinocyte growth factor promotes epithelial survival and resolution in a human model of lung injury.

Rationale: Increasing epithelial repair and regeneration may hasten resolution of lung injury in patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In animal models of ARDS, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) reduces injury and increases epithelial proliferation and repair. The effect of KGF in the human alveolus is unknown.

Simvastatin decreases lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary inflammation in healthy volunteers.

Rationale: Simvastatin inhibits inflammatory responses in vitro and in murine models of lung inflammation in vivo. As simvastatin modulates a number of the underlying processes described in acute lung injury (ALI), it may be a potential therapeutic option.

Objectives: To investigate in vivo if simvastatin modulates mechanisms important in the development of ALI in a model of acute lung inflammation induced by inhalation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in healthy human volunteers.

Phenotypic differences between oral and skin fibroblasts in wound contraction and growth factor expression.

Wounds of the oral mucosa heal in an accelerated fashion with reduced scarring compared with cutaneous wounds. The differences in healing outcome between oral mucosa and skin could be because of phenotypic differences between the respective fibroblast populations. This study compared paired mucosal and dermal fibroblasts in terms of collagen gel contraction, alpha-smooth muscle actin expression (alpha-SMA), and production of the epithelial growth factors: keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF).

The cytotoxic effects of human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP1) and lactoferrin on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in vitro.

Alpha-defensin or human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP1) is a neutrophil-derived antimicrobial peptide with cytotoxic effects towards cancer cells. Lactoferrin is also stored in human neutrophils and is a glycoprotein involved in mediating cytotoxicity towards tumour cells. This study investigated the sensitivity of normal oral keratinocyte and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells to HNP1 and lactoferrin in various combinations.

Keratinocyte growth factor and scatter factor expression by regionally defined oral fibroblasts.

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (SF) are two signalling molecules thought to play important roles in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Expression of both factors by fibroblasts in subepithelial connective tissue may play a role in maintaining epithelial integrity in health and in the apical migration of junctional epithelium in periodontitis. The aims of this study were (a) to compare expression levels of KGF and SF by periodontal ligament (PDL) and gingival fibroblasts; and (ii) to determine the effects of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on KGF/SF expression by these cell populations.