The expression of two markers of fetal liver, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), was studied in chemical and spontaneous hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. Serum AFP concentration increased within 3 weeks 3 weeks from the commencement of feeding of o-aminoazotuluene. This early elevation subsided about 3 months after the beg...
Integrin-mediated cell adhesion triggers intracellular signaling cascades, including tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular proteins. Among these are the focal adhesion proteins p130cas (Cas) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Here we identify the kinase(s) mediating integrin-induced Cas phosphorylation and characterize protein-protein interaction...
Fibronectin mediates attachment of cells to surfaces in vitro, and its abundance in basement membrane structures suggests that it serves a similar function in vivo. The cell attachment promoting activity of fibronectin depends on its capacity to interact with a number of other macromolecules. These include collagen, fibrin(ogen), glycosaminoglycans...
Three Macaca irus monkeys were immunized with purified human CEA. One received unmodified CEA and two were immunized with haptenated (4-hydroxy-5-iodo-3-nitrophenyl acetyl) CEA. All three monkeys formed precipitating antibodies to CEA. The antisera did not precipitate the CEA-related normal glycoprotein antigen (NCA). In contrast, CEA-immunized rab...
We show that R-Ras, a small GTPase of the Ras family, is essential for the establishment of mature, functional blood vessels in tumors. The genetic disruption of R-Ras severely impaired the maturation processes of tumor vessels in mice. Conversely, the gain of function of R-Ras improved vessel structure and blood perfusion and blocked plasma leakag...
Anastellin is a carboxy-terminal fragment of the first FN3 domain from human fibronectin. It is capable of polymerizing fibronectin in vitro, and it displays anti-tumor, anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic properties in vivo. We have determined the structure of anastellin using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and identified residues critica...
Because nucleic acids (NAs) have immense potential value as therapeutics, the development of safe and effective synthetic NA vectors continues to attract much attention. In vivo applications of NA vectors require stabilized, nanometer-scale particles, but the commonly used approaches of steric stabilization with a polymer coat (e.g., PEGylation; PE...
Nine families in which a previous child had had congenital nephrotic syndrome (C.N.) sought genetic counselling and possible antenatal diagnosis of fetal disease. Maternal serum and amniotic-fluid alpha-fetoprotein (A.F.P.) assays were carried out between the 15th and 20th weeks of subsequent pregnancies. Seven women in whom A.F.P. concentrations w...
