Advances in Stem Cells and Their Niches addresses stem cells during development, homeostasis, and disease/injury of the respective organs, presenting new developments in the field, including new data on disease and clinical applications. Video content illustrates such areas as protocols, transplantation techniques, and work with mice. Explores not only reviews of research, but also shares methods, protocols, and transplantation techniques Contains video content to illustrate such areas as protocols, transplantation techniques, and work with mice Each volume concentrates on one organ, making this a unique publication
The book brings together the current knowledge and future perspectives of the complex physiology and pathophysiology of gut-liver interactions in health and disease. It provides readers with a unique overview and access to knowledge that cannot be obtained elsewhere. The structure is logical and covers all aspect including the normal physiology, changes in various liver diseases, technology, sample collection and various interventions. Thus suitable for general reading, lookup for specific questions or as a reference book within the area. The book allows the reader to access all the knowledge that has been generated within the last 10 years in this field.
The complex and critical process of extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly is described in this book. Assembly may involve molecules interacting with molecules of the same matrix class, such as in collagen, or interactions between different ECM molecules, such as in basement membranes. The text shows how this is driven by structural information within the matrix monomer. This information will be of interest to cell, developmental, and molecular biologists, biochemists, biophysicists, and biomedical researchers involved in macromolecular assembly, biological macromolecules, and extracellular matrix. - Addresses assembly of most of the known classes of extracellular matrix macromolecules - Discusses higher order structures produced by ECM - Gives important concepts in ECM and cell-matrix interactions, Protein structure and protein-protein interactions, Development and tissue remodeling
Knowledge of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential to understand cellular differentiation, tissue development, and tissue remodeling. This volume of the series “Biology of Extracellular Matrix” provides a timely overview of the structure, regulation, and function of the major macromolecules that make up the extracellular matrix. It covers topics such as collagen types and assembly of collagen-containing suprastructures, basement membrane, fibronectin and other cell-adhesive glycoproteins, proteoglycans, microfibrils, elastin, fibulins and matricellular proteins, such as thrombospondin. It also explores the concept that ECM components together with their cell surface receptors can be viewed as intricate nano-devices that allow cells to physically organize their 3-D-environment. Further, the role of the ECM in human disease and pathogenesis is discussed as well as the use of model organisms in elucidating ECM function.
Regulated turnover of extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important component of tissue homeostasis. In recent years, the enzymes that participate in, and control ECM turnover have been the focus of research that touches on development, tissue remodeling, inflammation and disease. This volume in the Biology of Extracellular Matrix series provides a review of the known classes of proteases that degrade ECM both outside and inside the cell. The specific EMC proteases that are discussed include cathepsins, bacterial collagenases, matrix metalloproteinases, meprins, serine proteases, and elastases. The volume also discusses the domains responsible for specific biochemical characteristics of the proteases and the physical interactions that occur when the protease interacts with substrate. The topics covered in this volume provide an important context for understanding the role that matrix-degrading proteases play in normal tissue remodeling and in diseases such as cancer and lung disease.
In the past decade there has been a major sea change in the way disease is diagnosed and investigated due to the advent of high throughput technologies, such as microarrays, lab on a chip, proteomics, genomics, lipomics, metabolomics etc. These advances have enabled the discovery of new and novel markers of disease relating to autoimmune disorders, cancers, endocrine diseases, genetic disorders, sensory damage, intestinal diseases etc. In many instances these developments have gone hand in hand with the discovery of biomarkers elucidated via traditional or conventional methods, such as histopathology or clinical biochemistry. Together with microprocessor-based data analysis, advanced statistics and bioinformatics these markers have been used to identify individuals with active disease or pathology as well as those who are refractory or have distinguishing pathologies. New analytical methods that have been used to identify markers of disease and is suggested that there may be as many as 40 different platforms. Unfortunately techniques and methods have not been readily transferable to other disease states and sometimes diagnosis still relies on single analytes rather than a cohort of markers. There is thus a demand for a comprehensive and focused evidenced-based text and scientific literature that addresses these issues. Hence the formulation of Biomarkers in Disease The series covers a wide number of areas including for example, nutrition, cancer, endocrinology, cardiology, addictions, immunology, birth defects, genetics, and so on. The chapters are written by national or international experts and specialists.
Written by internationally recognized leaders in Heparanase biology, the book’s eight chapters offer an opportunity for scientists, clinicians and advanced students in cell biology, tumor biology and oncology to obtain a comprehensive understanding of Heparanase’s multifaceted activities in cancer, inflammation, diabetes and other diseases, as well as its related clinical applications. Proteases and their involvement in cancer progression have been well addressed and documented; however, the emerging premise presented within this book is that Heparanase is a master regulator of aggressive cancer phenotypes and crosstalk with the tumor microenvironment. This endoglycosidase contributes to tumor-mediated remodeling of the extracellular matrix and cell surfaces, augmenting the bioavailability of pro-tumorigenic and pro-inflammatory growth factors and cytokines that are bound to Heparan sulfate. Compelling evidence ties Heparanase with all steps of tumor progression including tumor initiation, growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance, supporting the notion that Heparanase is an important contributor to the poor outcome of cancer patients and a validated target for therapy. Unlike Heparanase, heparanase-2, a close homolog of Heparanase, lacks enzymatic activity, inhibits Heparanase, and regulates selected genes that promote normal differentiation and tumor suppression. Written by internationally recognized leaders in Heparanase biology, this volume presents a comprehensive understanding of Heparanase’s multifaceted activities in cancer, inflammation, diabetes and other diseases, as well as its related clinical applications to scientists, clinicians and advanced students in cell biology, tumor biology and oncology.
Cancer was thought to originate from alterations in intercellular signaling that resulted in the transformation of cells, their uncontrolled proliferation and metastasis. There is now an increasing body of evidence demonstrating that the surrounding matrix and cell-matrix interactions are also major players in this process. Cells adhere and receive signals from various extracellular matrices via transmembrane receptors, the best known of which are the heterodimeric glycoproteins, integrins.
In most tissues, cells are surrounded by an extracellular matrix (ECM) containing proteins such as collagen, laminin, and fibronectin. The ECM plays an important role in regulating cell function. ECM proteins bind to integrins and other cell surface receptors, activating signaling pathways that regulate cellular morphology, adhesion, cell migration, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology covers all aspects of ECM composition and function, as well as alterations in the ECM that occur during development, tumorigenesis, and other disease states. The contributors examine the various ECM proteins and proteoglycans, ECM receptors such as integrins, and the signaling pathways that mediate the effects of the ECM on cells. They also describe ECM functions in specific biological contexts, including angiogenesis, hemostasis, and thrombosis. Covering not only the biochemistry and cell biology of the ECM but also its roles in development, physiology, and pathology, this volume is an indispensable reference for cell biologists and all those interested in exploring the myriad functions of the ECM.
This comprehensive book contains the latest information on diverse biological functions of relaxin and related peptide found since the recent discovery of relaxin receptors. It also describes the evolution of relaxin family peptides and their receptors, molecular mechanisms of ligand/receptor interaction and the analysis of activated signaling pathways.
