Malignant proliferating liver cancer cells possess the ability to detect and respond to various body signals, thereby facilitating tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. One crucial mechanism through which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells interpret these signals is crosstalk. Within liver cancer tissues, cancer cells engage in communication with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and immune cells. This interaction plays a pivotal role in regulating the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of HCC cells. Crosstalk occurs in multiple ways, each characterized by distinct functions. Its molecular mechanisms primarily involve regulating immune cell functions through the expression of specific receptors, such as CD24 and CD47, modulating cell functions by secreting cytokines like transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and mediating cell growth and proliferation by activating pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and Hedgehog. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms and interactions within crosstalk is essential for unraveling the pathogenesis of HCC. It also opens up new avenues for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. This article reviews the relationship between crosstalk and the progression of HCC, offering insights and inspiration for future research.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Hepatic Stellate Cells/physiology* ; Disease Progression ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Hedgehog Proteins/metabolism* ; Tumor-Associated Macrophages ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/metabolism* ; Cell Communication/physiology*

Periodontal bone defects, primarily caused by periodontitis, are highly prevalent in clinical settings and manifest as bone fenestration, dehiscence, or attachment loss, presenting a significant challenge to oral health. In regenerative medicine, harnessing developmental principles for tissue repair offers promising therapeutic potential. Of particular interest is the condensation of progenitor cells, an essential event in organogenesis that has inspired clinically effective cell aggregation approaches in dental regeneration. However, the precise cellular coordination mechanisms during condensation and regeneration remain elusive. Here, taking the tooth as a model organ, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect the cellular composition and heterogeneity of human dental follicle and dental papilla, revealing a distinct Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) population with remarkable odontogenic potential. Interestingly, a reciprocal paracrine interaction between PDGFRA⁺ dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) and CD31⁺ Endomucin⁺ endothelial cells (ECs) was mediated by Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and Platelet-derived growth factor subunit BB (PDGFBB). This crosstalk not only maintains the functionality of PDGFRA⁺ DFSCs but also drives specialized angiogenesis. In vivo periodontal bone regeneration experiments further reveal that communication between PDGFRA⁺ DFSC aggregates and recipient ECs is essential for effective angiogenic-osteogenic coupling and rapid tissue repair. Collectively, our results unravel the importance of MSC-EC crosstalk mediated by the VEGFA and PDGFBB-PDGFRA reciprocal signaling in orchestrating angiogenesis and osteogenesis. These findings not only establish a framework for deciphering and promoting periodontal bone regeneration in potential clinical applications but also offer insights for future therapeutic strategies in dental or broader regenerative medicine.
Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha/metabolism* ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/physiology* ; Dental Sac/cytology* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Transcriptome ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Bone Regeneration ; Animals ; Dental Papilla/cytology* ; Periodontium/physiology* ; Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Regeneration ; Angiogenesis

In the kidney, pericyte is the major source of myofibroblast (MyoF) in renal interstitium. It is reported that pericyte-myofibroblast transition（PMT）is one of the important pathomechanisms of renal interstitial fibrosis（RIF）. Among them, the main reasons for promoting RIF formation include pericyte recruitment, activation and isolation, as well as the lack of pericyte-derived erythropoietin. During the PMT startup process, pericyte activation and its separation from microvessels are controlled by multiple signal transduction pathways, such as transforming growth factor-β（TGF-β）pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) pathway and platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) pathway;Blocking of these signaling pathways can not only inhibit PMT, but also suppress renal capillaries reduction and further alleviate RIF. In clinic, many traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions, single traditional Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and their extracts have the clear effects in alleviating RIF, and some of their intervention actions may be related to pericyte and its PMT. Therefore, the studies on PMT and its drug intervention will become the main development direction in the research field of anti-organ fibrosis by CHM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; cytology ; drug effects ; pathology ; Myofibroblasts ; cytology ; Pericytes ; cytology ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

CD146 Antigen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pericytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

BACKGROUND15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), one of the major metabolites from prostaglandin D2 in arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, has potential anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of 15d-PGJ2-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanocapsules (15d-PGJ2-NC) on inflammatory responses and bone regeneration in local bone defect.

METHODSThe study was conducted on 96 Wistar rats from June 2014 to March 2016. Saline, unloaded nanoparticles, free 15d-PGJ2or 15d-PGJ2-NC, were delivered through a collagen vehicle inside surgically created transcortical defects in rat femurs. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in the surrounding soft tissue were analyzed by Western blot and in the defect by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction over 14 days. Simultaneously, bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) and platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) messenger RNA (mRNA) in the defect were examined. New bone formation and EphrinB2 and osteoprotegerin (OPG) protein expression in the cortical defect were observed by Masson's Trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry over 28 days. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Least-significant difference and Dunnett's T3 methods were used with a bilateral P< 0.05.

RESULTSApplication of l5d-PGJ2-NC (100 μg/ml) in the local bone defect significantly decreased IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α mRNA and protein, compared with saline-treated controls (P < 0.05). l5d-PGJ2-NC upregulated BMP-6 and PDGF-B mRNA (P < 0.05). New bone formation was observed in the cortical defect in l5d-PGJ2-NC-treated animals from 7th day onward (P < 0.001). Expression of EphrinB2 and OPG presented early on day 3 and persisted through day 28 in 15d-PGJ2-NC group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONStable l5d-PGJ2-NC complexes were prepared that could attenuate IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression, while increasing new bone formation and growth factors related to bone regeneration.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6 ; metabolism ; Bone Regeneration ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Prostaglandin D2 ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the role of PDGF/PDGFR in essential thrombocythemia (ET) by investigating the expression of PDGF-BB in bone marrow and the expression of PDGFR-β in bone marrow cells of patients with ET and explore the new target for treating ET patients through inhibiting the PDGFR of megakaryocytes.

METHODSThe expression level of PDGF-BB in bone marrow of ET patients and normal controls were assayed by using ELISA, the expression level of PDGFR-β (CD140) in bone marrow of ET patients and normal controls were detected by using flow cytometry, the effect of PDGF-BB in JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT pathway was detected by using flow cytometry or Werstern blot, and the effect of imatinib on the megakaryopoiesis of PDGF was observed.

RESULTSThe expression level of PDGF-BB in bone marrow of ET patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls; the expression level of PDGFR-β in bone marrow of ET patients was significantly higher than that in nornal controls; PDGF-BB could activate JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT pathway of megakaryocytes, while the imatinib could block the effect of PDGF-BB on megakaryocyte.

CONCLUSIONThe elevated PDGF-BB and PDGFR-β may be involved in ET, and the physiopathologic mechanism is that the elevated PDGF-BB activates PDGFR with subsequent activation of the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT pathways, stimulating megakaryopoiesis. Imatinib may have a therapeutical effect on ET via blocking of PDGFR.

Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; metabolism ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Thrombocythemia, Essential ; metabolism ; Thrombopoiesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of nuclear factor I-C (NFI-C) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced up-regulation of TGF-β receptor II (TβRII) in dermal fibroblasts.

METHODSA lentiviral vector containing NFI-C sequence (Lenti-GFP-NFI-C) was transfected into a human foreskin fibroblast cell line (HFF-1). Cultured HFF-1 cells, cells transfected with Lenti-GFP-NFI-C, and cells transfected with a negative virus were stimulated with PDGF-BB, and Western blotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression levels of TβRII in the treated cells.

RESULTSPDGF treatment significantly increased the expression level of TβRII in HFF-1 cells (P<0.05). The cells transfected with Lenti-GFP-NFI-C expressed a significantly lower level of TβRII than non-transfected cells in response to PDGF stimulation (P<0.05), but the negative virus showed no such inhibitory effect (P>0.05). No significant difference was found in the expression level of TβRII protein between cells transfected with Lenti-GFP-NFI-C-transfection before PDGF stimulation and the blank control cells.

CONCLUSIONNFI-C can inhibit PDGF-induced up-regulation of TβRII and thus reduce the sensitivity of the dermal fibroblasts to TGF-β.

Cell Line ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; NFI Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of curcumin on TGF-β2 regulated peroxisome proliferater activated receptor y (PPAR-γ)/platelet derived growth factor β (PDGF-β) signaling pathway in lung fibroblasts of mice.

METHODSC57BL/6 mouse lung fibroblasts were in vitro cultured with TGF-β2, curcumin, or TGF-β2 plus curcumin. The cell proliferation was detected by cell growth counting in the blank control group, low, middle, and high dose curcumin groups (5, 25, 50 μmol/L), the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) group, TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin (5, 25, 50 μmol/L) groups. mRNA expressions of PPAR-γ, platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFR-β), fibroblast growth factor R1 (FGFR1) were detected using reverse transcription PCR. Protein levels of PPAR-γ and collagen-1 were detected using Western blot and ELISA in the blank control group, the TGF-β2 group, the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 50 μmol/L group.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, curcumin 50 μmol/L showed the most significant inhibition on cell proliferation at 48 h and 72 h. Compared with the TGF-β2 group, TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 50 mol/L also showed the most significant inhibition on cell proliferation at 48 h and 72 h. Compared with the blank control group, mRNA expressions of PPAR-γ and PDGF-β, as well as protein expression of PPAR-γ increased, the collagen-1 expression also increased in the TGF-β2 group (P < 0.05). Compared with the TGF-β2 group, mRNA expressions of PPAR-γ obviously increased in the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 25 μmol/L group and the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 50 μmol/L group, higher than that in the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 5 [μmol/L group (P < 0.05). mRNA expressions of PPAR-γ was higher in the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 50 μmol/L group than in the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 25 μmol/L group (P < 0.05). mRNA expressions of PDGF-β was lower in TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin groups than in the TGF-β2 group (P < 0.05). Besides, PDGF-β mRNA expressions were lower in the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 50 μmol/L group than in the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 5 μmol/L group and the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 25 μmol/L group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in FGFR1 mRNA expressions between the TGF-β2 group and 3 TGF-β2 plus curcumin groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the TGF-β2 group, PPAR-γ protein expressions increased and collagen-1 protein expressions decreased in the TGF-β2 (10 ng/mL) plus curcumin 50 μLmol/L group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCurcumin not only could inhibit TGF-β2 induced proliferation of lung fibroblasts, but also could inhibit the synthesis of collagens. These might be associated with up-regulating PPAR-γ expressions and down-regulating PDGF-β expressions. Therefore, curcumin might inhibit the occurrence and developing of lung fibrosis through blocking PPAR-γ/PDGF-β signaling pathway.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of cytokines in induced sputum at different stages of silicosis patients.

METHODSA total of 200 workers from one of the Shandong Province gold mine were chosen as object of observation. Among which 40 patients at silicosis stage I and 40 patients at silicosis stage II were divided into silicosis observed object group, silicosis stage I group, silicosis stage II group, and another 80 workers exposed to silica dust without suffering from silicotic Clinical symptoms, however, were chosen as group of dust exposed, and 40 logistical workers without being exposed and history of silicosis's illness were chosen as control group. And ask their basic information by questionnaire. Then, spray-inhalation the induced sputum and apply the ELISA to assess the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1α), monocyte chemotactic factor-1 (MCP-1), metalloproteinases (MMP), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) in induced sputum from subjects.

RESULTSThe level of TGF-β [(901.60 ± 30.09) ng/L] in the induced sputumof patients in silicosis stage I group is lower than that in the observed object group [(913.02 ± 20.51) ng/L], and the level of MMP-9 [(212.49 ± 5.97) ng/L], MCP-1 [(129.91 ± 4.30) ng/L] has various degrees of increase than that in control group, observed object group and dust exposed group. All the differences have statistical significances (P < 0.05). The level of TNF-α [(85.76 ± 3.78) ng/L] in the induced sputum of patients in silicosis stage I group reaches the maximum, there are significant differences comparing with that level in the silica dust exposure group and the control group, whose differences are statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the level of MMP-2 (427.95 ± 23.64) in the induced sputum of patients in silicosis stage I group has increased, whose differences also have statically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, silica dust exposed group, the observation group of objects, the pneumosilicosis patients of IL-16 in induced sputum IL-16 (21.40 ± 9.24) decreased, the content of PDGF [(5.96 ± 0.51) ng/L], MMP-2 [(447.86 ± 27.10) ng/L], MMP-9 [(223.91 ± 12.28) ng/L], MCP-1 [(122.87 ± 6.08) ng/L] increased, the differences are statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAs silicosis biomarkers, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, IL-16, PDGF, MMP-2, MMP-9 and MCP-1 have certain significance, further suggesting that early detection rate of patients with silicosis can be improved by employing the multiple indexes discriminate equation.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL3 ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Discriminant Analysis ; Dust ; Humans ; Interleukin-16 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Silicosis ; diagnosis ; Sputum ; chemistry ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of platelet derived growth factor-B and its receptor expression on the proliferation of renal cell carcinoma ACHN cells in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSPDGF-B gene was transfected into human renal carcinoma cell line ACHN cells, and the proliferation capability of ACHN cells transfected with or without PDGF-B was assessed by MTT assay. The effect of PDGF-B on the expression of p-PDGFR-β in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) was detected by Western blot. ACHN cells transfected with PDGF-B were injected into mice (untransfected ACHN as control) to induce tumor formation. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of Ki-67 in tumor cells and the tumor volume was measured to compare the tumor growth in the two groups.

RESULTSThe PDGF-B expression of ACHN cells in transfected group was significantly increased than that in the untransfected group. MTT assay showed that the proliferation capability of ACHN cells in the transfected and untransfected groups had no significant differences at different time points (P>0.05). The expression of p-PDGFR-β in VSMC was significantly increased when cultured with PDGF-B overexpression culture medium. The mean tumor size of the PDGF-B group and control group was (0.305±0.108) cm(3) and (0.577±0.218) cm(3), respectively (P=0.007). Ki-67-positive tumor cells were (41.00±5.34)/HPF in the PDGF-B-transfected group and (55.80±2.95)/HPF in the untransfected group (P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONPDGF-B overexpression may up-regulate p-PDGFR-β expression of VSMC in renal cell carcinoma, and inhibit the tumor cell proliferation and tumor growth through paracrine signaling.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; metabolism