Receptor and Molecular Mechanism of AGGF1 Signaling in Endothelial Cell Functions and Angiogenesis.

Objective: Angiogenic factor AGGF1 (angiogenic factor with G-patch and FHA [Forkhead-associated] domain 1) promotes angiogenesis as potently as VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) and regulates endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, migration, specification of multipotent hemangioblasts and venous ECs, hematopoiesis, and vascular development and causes vascular disease Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome when mutated. However, the receptor for AGGF1 and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be defined.

Approach And Results: Using functional blocking studies with neutralizing antibodies, we identified [alpha]5[beta]1 as the receptor for AGGF1 on ECs.

Ultrasensitive and selective recognition of peptide hormone using close-packed arrays of hPTHR-conjugated polymer nanoparticles.

Recognition of diverse hormones in the human body is a highly significant challenge because numerous diseases can be affected by hormonal imbalances. However, the methodologies reported to date for detecting hormones have exhibited limited performance. Therefore, development of innovative methods is still a major concern in hormone-sensing applications.

Multidimensional conducting polymer nanotubes for ultrasensitive chemical nerve agent sensing.

Tailoring the morphology of materials in the nanometer regime is vital to realizing enhanced device performance. Here, we demonstrate flexible nerve agent sensors, based on hydroxylated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanotubes (HPNTs) with surface substructures such as nanonodules (NNs) and nanorods (NRs). The surface substructures can be grown on a nanofiber surface by controlling critical synthetic conditions during vapor deposition polymerization (VDP) on the polymer nanotemplate, leading to the formation of multidimensional conducting polymer nanostructures.

Fabrication of ultrafine metal-oxide-decorated carbon nanofibers for DMMP sensor application.

Ultrafine metal-oxide-decorated hybrid carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were fabricated by a single-nozzle co-electrospinning process using a phase-separated mixed polymer composite solution and heat treatment. To decorate metal oxides on the CNF surface, core (PAN) and shell (PVP) structured nanofibers (NFs) were fabricated as starting materials. The core-shell NF structure was prepared by single-nozzle co-electrospinning because of the incompatibility of the two polymers.

Novel roles of GATA1 in regulation of angiogenic factor AGGF1 and endothelial cell function.

AGGF1 is an angiogenic factor, and its deregulation is associated with a vascular malformation consistent with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS). This study defines the molecular mechanism for transcriptional regulation of AGGF1 expression. Transcription of AGGF1 starts at two nearby sites, -367 and -364 bp upstream of the translation start site.

Proteomics with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis in cardiovascular research.

Proteomics is a large-scale, comprehensive study of the proteins of a cell or organism. It is a unique means of characterizing proteins that are expressed in a cell or tissue at any given time-point and of identifying any modifications that they may undergo. Thus, it is a powerful technology that can detect and identify the changes of the structure and function of proteins in response to intra- and extracellular environmental signals or disease states.

Ferritin in atherosclerosis.

Iron, an essential element for many important cellular functions in all living organisms, can catalyze the formation of potentially toxic free radicals. Excessive iron is sequestered by ferritin in a nontoxic and readily available form in a cell. Ferritin is composed of 24 subunits of different proportions of two functionally distinct subunits: ferritin H and L.

Calcium-sensitive potassium channelopathy in human epilepsy and paroxysmal movement disorder.

The large conductance calcium-sensitive potassium (BK) channel is widely expressed in many organs and tissues, but its in vivo physiological functions have not been fully defined. Here we report a genetic locus associated with a human syndrome of coexistent generalized epilepsy and paroxysmal dyskinesia on chromosome 10q22 and show that a mutation of the alpha subunit of the BK channel causes this syndrome. The mutant BK channel had a markedly greater macroscopic current.

Identification of an angiogenic factor that when mutated causes susceptibility to Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome.

Angiogenic factors are critical to the initiation of angiogenesis and maintenance of the vascular network. Here we use human genetics as an approach to identify an angiogenic factor, VG5Q, and further define two genetic defects of VG5Q in patients with the vascular disease Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS). One mutation is chromosomal translocation t(5;11), which increases VG5Q transcription.

Proteomic approach to coronary atherosclerosis shows ferritin light chain as a significant marker: evidence consistent with iron hypothesis in atherosclerosis.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developed nations. We hypothesized that CAD is associated with distinct patterns of protein expression in the coronary arteries, and we have begun to employ proteomics to identify differentially expressed proteins in diseased coronary arteries. Two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis of proteins and subsequent mass spectrometric analysis identified the ferritin light chain as differentially expressed between 10 coronary arteries from patients with CAD and 7 coronary arteries from normal individuals.