R-Smad signaling-mediated VEGF expression coordinately regulates endothelial cell differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells.

A low-efficiency yield hinders the use of stem cells as a source of endothelial cells (ECs) for therapeutic vascularization, and the diversity of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily has undermined understanding the effects of its potent vascularization-inducing. Herein, we studied the role of the TGF-β superfamily in EC differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) induced by Smad2/3 and Smad1/5/8 signaling. MSCs that had been sorted by flow cytometry as CD31-negative were cultured for 14 days in medium supplemented with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) as the control.

MCP-1 stimulates MMP-9 expression via ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways in human aortic smooth muscle cells.

Objective: We investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the formation and development of human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Methods: We examined protein expression profiles using a protein array and found that MCP-1 was the most highly expressed protein in AAA tissues compared with normal aortas. To investigate the potential mechanism of MCP-1 involvement in the pathogenesis of AAA, we treated human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) with human recombinant MCP-1.

Combination of stromal-derived factor-1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor gene-modified endothelial progenitor cells is more effective for ischemic neovascularization.

Background: Recruitment and entrapment of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is important in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis. EPC mobilization and differentiation are modulated by stromal-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha/CXCL12), another important chemokine. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that SDF-1alpha and VEGF might act synergistically on EPC-mediated vasculogenesis.

[Clinical analysis of mesenteric venous thrombosis:a report of 23 cases].

Objective: To assess the early clinical diagnosis and treatment of mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT).

Methods: Clinical data of 23 cases with MVT from January 1994 to December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: There were 17 males and 6 females, the age ranged from 19 to 74 years old with a mean age of 42 years.