Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a member of the CCN family of secreted, matrix-associated proteins encoded by immediate early genes that play various roles in angiogenesis and tumor growth. CCN family proteins share uniform modular structure which mediates various cellular functions such as regulation of cell division, chemotaxis, apoptosis, adhesion, motility, angiogenesis, neoplastic transformation, and ion transport. Recently, CTGF expression has been shown to be associated with tumor development and progression. There is growing body of evidence that CTGF may regulate cancer cell migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and anoikis. In this review, we will highlight the influence of CTGF expression on the biological behavior and progression of various cancer cells, as well as its regulation on various types of protein signals and their mechanisms.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11373-008-9264-9 | DOI Listing |
Cells
March 2025
Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-689, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by high mortality rates due to late diagnosis, recurrence, and metastasis. Here, we show that extracellular signaling molecules secreted by adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) and OC cells-either in the conditioned medium (CM) or within small extracellular vesicles (sEVs)-modulate cellular responses and drive OC progression. ASC-derived sEVs and CM secretome promoted OC cell colony formation, invasion, and migration while upregulating tumor-associated signaling pathways, including TGFβ/Smad, p38MAPK/ERK1/2, Wnt/β-catenin, and MMP-9.
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February 2025
Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
Adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) are one of the most promising cell sources that possess significant therapeutic effects. They have now become a main source of cell therapy for the treatment of ischemic diseases due to their easy accessibility, expansion, and differentiation. Additionally, ADRCs can release multiple paracrine factors and extracellular vesicles that contribute to tissue regeneration by promoting angiogenesis, regulating inflammation, alleviating apoptosis, and inhibiting fibrosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) offer promising therapeutic potential in cell-based therapies for various diseases. However, the safety of genetically modified MSCs remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the general toxicity and safety of Wharton's Jelly-Derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) engineered to express the antimicrobial peptide SE-33 in an animal model.
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February 2025
College of Veterinary Medicine/Bio-Medical Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative diseases in dogs and humans, which can lead to articular cartilage deterioration, chronic pain, and decreased quality of life. The anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, analgesic, and cartilage regeneration properties of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy provide a new direction for the treatment development of OA in the future. Currently, MSC therapy lacks confirmed ideal sources, dosages, formulations, and specific characteristics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndokrynol Pol
March 2025
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Changzhi Medical College Affiliated Heji Hospital, Changzhi, China.
Bone mineral density is the primary basis for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Bone mineral density measurement methods include dual-energy X-ray (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Based on traditional bone density detection equipment, the newly developed imaging detection technology can further detect the microstructures and geometric features of bones, providing important reference for exploring the pathophysiological changes, sensitive clinical diagnosis, and disease monitoring of osteoporosis.
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