Editorial Board/Copyright Information
Publication date: August 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Volume 62Author(s): (Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine)
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 11, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
PDGF-C and PDGF-D signaling in vascular diseases and animal models
Publication date: August 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Volume 62Author(s): Erika Folestad, Anne Kunath, Dick WågsäterAbstractMembers of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family are well known to be involved in different pathological conditions. The cellular and molecular mechanisms induced by the PDGF signaling have been well studied. Nevertheless, there is much more to discover about their functions and some important questions to be answered. This review summarizes the known roles of two of the PDGFs, PDGF-C and PDGF-D, in vascular diseases. There are clear implications for these growth factors in ...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 11, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Platelet-derived growth factor-C and -D in the cardiovascular system and diseases
Publication date: August 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Volume 62Author(s): Chunsik Lee, Xuri LiAbstractThe cardiovascular system is among the first organs formed during development and is pivotal for the formation and function of the rest of the organs and tissues. Therefore, the function and homeostasis of the cardiovascular system are finely regulated by many important molecules. Extensive studies have shown that platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors are critical regulators of the cardiovascular system. Even though PDGF-C and PDGF-D are relatively new members of the PDGF family, their c...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 11, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
PDGFs and their receptors in vascular stem/progenitor cells: Functions and therapeutic potential in retinal vasculopathy
Publication date: August 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Volume 62Author(s): Weisi Lu, Xuri LiAbstractVascular stem/progenitor cells (VSCs) include endothelial progenitor cells, smooth muscle progenitor cells, pericytes, and mesenchymal stem cells. VSCs can produce functional and mature vascular cells required to build blood vessels. VSCs therefore play critical roles in vascular repair and regeneration, particularly, in various retinal vasculopathies, in which vascular defects are a devastating pathology. The platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors (PDGFRs) are important regulators of numero...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 11, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
PDGF-C and PDGF-D in ocular diseases
Publication date: August 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Volume 62Author(s): Anil Kumar, Xuri LiAbstractPDGFs and their receptors are critical regulators of numerous tissues and organs, including the eye. Extensive studies have shown that PDGFs and their receptors play critical roles in many ocular neovascular diseases, such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In addition, PDGFs and PDGFRs are also important players in ocular diseases involving the degeneration of retinal neuronal and vascular cells, such as glaucoma and retinitis pigm...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 11, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
PDGF in organ fibrosis
Publication date: August 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Volume 62Author(s): Barbara Mara Klinkhammer, Jürgen Floege, Peter BoorAbstractFibrosis is part of a tissue repair response to injury, defined as increased deposition of extracellular matrix. In some instances, fibrosis is beneficial; however, in the majority of diseases fibrosis is detrimental. Virtually all chronic progressive diseases are associated with fibrosis, representing a huge number of patients worldwide. Fibrosis occurs in all organs and tissues, becomes irreversible with time and further drives loss of tissue function. Various cells types ini...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 11, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
The PDGF/PDGFR pathway as a drug target
Publication date: August 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Volume 62Author(s): Natalia Papadopoulos, Johan LennartssonAbstractPlatelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) promotes cell proliferation, survival and migration, primarily of cells of mesenchymal origin. Dysfunction of PDGF signaling has been observed in a wide array of pathological conditions, such as cancer, fibrosis, neurological conditions and atherosclerosis. Reported abnormalities of the PDGF pathway include overexpression or amplification of PDGF receptors (PDGFRs), gain of function point mutations or activating chromosomal translocations. Current deve...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 11, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
New pro-resolving n-3 mediators bridge resolution of infectious inflammation to tissue regeneration
Publication date: Available online 1 September 2017Source: Molecular Aspects of MedicineAuthor(s): Charles N. Serhan, Nan Chiang, Jesmond DalliAbstractWhile protective, the acute inflammatory response when uncontrolled can lead to further tissue damage and chronic inflammation that is now widely recognized to play important roles in many commonly occurring diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, and many other diseases of significant public health concern. The ideal response to initial challenges of the host is complete resolution of the acute inflammatory response, which i...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 5, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
FFA4 (GPR120) as a fatty acid sensor involved in appetite control, insulin sensitivity and inflammation regulation
Publication date: Available online 12 October 2017Source: Molecular Aspects of MedicineAuthor(s): Dong-Soon ImAbstractUnsaturated long-chain fatty acids have been suggested to be beneficial in the context of cardiovascular disorders based in epidemiologic studies conducted in Greenland and Mediterranean. DHA and EPA are omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that are plentiful in fish oil, and oleic acid is an omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid, rich in olive oil. Dietary intake of these unsaturated long-chain fatty acids have been associated with insulin sensitivity and weight loss, which contrasts with the impairment of ins...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 5, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Redox-signals and macrophage biology (for the upcoming issue of molecular aspects of medicine on signaling by reactive oxygen species)
Publication date: Available online 12 January 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of MedicineAuthor(s): Andreas Weigert, Andreas von Knethen, Dominik Fuhrmann, Nathalie Dehne, Bernhard BrüneAbstractMacrophages are known for their versatile role in biology. They sense and clear structures that contain exogenous or endogenous pathogen-associated molecular patterns. This process is tightly linked to the production of a mixture of potentially harmful oxidants and cytokines. Their inherent destructive behavior is directed against foreign material or structures of ‘altered self’, which explains the role of macrophages during inna...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 5, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Omega-3 fatty acids and adipose tissue biology
Publication date: Available online 17 January 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of MedicineAuthor(s): Ondrej Kuda, Martin Rossmeisl, Jan KopeckyAbstractThis review provides evidence for the importance of white and brown adipose tissue (i.e. WAT and BAT) function for the maintenance of healthy metabolic phenotype and its preservation in response to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA), namely in the context of diseased states linked to aberrant accumulation of body fat, systemic low-grade inflammation, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. More specifically, the review deals with (i) the concept of immunometabolism...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 5, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
The role of fatty acids and their endocannabinoid-like derivatives in the molecular regulation of appetite
Publication date: Available online 19 January 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of MedicineAuthor(s): Renger F. WitkampAbstractIntake, absorption and synthesis of fatty acids, including those produced by the intestinal microbiota are tightly monitored via specific receptors and, indirectly through their conversion into a variety of signalling molecules. The resulting information is integrated and translated to different physiological processes, including the regulation of appetite and satiation. Direct chemosensing of fatty acids takes place via interaction with free fatty acid (FFA) and other receptors. These are present in t...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 5, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Brain docosahexaenoic acid uptake and metabolism
Publication date: Available online 9 February 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of MedicineAuthor(s): R.J.Scott Lacombe, Raphaël Chouinard-Watkins, Richard P. BazinetAbstractDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the most abundant n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain where it serves to regulate several important processes and, in addition, serves as a precursor to bioactive mediators. Given that the capacity of the brain to synthesize DHA locally is appreciably low, the uptake of DHA from circulating lipid pools is essential to maintaining homeostatic levels. Although, several plasma pools have been proposed to supply the brain...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 5, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Redox control in cancer development and progression
Publication date: Available online 5 March 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of MedicineAuthor(s): Valeska Helfinger, Katrin SchröderAbstractCancer is the leading cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. This has been the case for the last few decades despite there being an increase in the number of cancer treatments. One reason for the apparent lack of drug effectiveness might be, at least in part, due to unspecificity for tumors; which often leads to substantial side effects. One way to improve the treatment of cancer is to increase the specificity of the treatment in accordance with the concept of individual...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 5, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Omega-3 fatty acids and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Evidence of efficacy and mechanism of action
Publication date: Available online 22 March 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of MedicineAuthor(s): Eleonora Scorletti, Christopher D. ByrneAbstractFor many years it has been known that high doses of long chain omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial in the treatment of hypertriglyceridaemia. Over the last three decades, there has also been a wealth of in vitro and in vivo data that has accumulated to suggest that long chain omega-3 fatty acid treatment might be beneficial to decrease liver triacylglycerol. Several biological mechanisms have been identified that support this hypothesis; notably, it has been shown that long chain om...
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - July 5, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
