Tissue engineering is progressing rapidly. Bioengineered substitutes are already available
for experimental applications and some clinical purposes such as skin replacement. This …

Over the years, most researchers have approached corneal epithelial and stromal wound
healing as separate events. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that even the …

In response to transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ) stimulation, fibroblasts modify their
integrin repertoire and adhesive capabilities to certain extracellular matrix proteins. Although …

Early growth response factor (Egr-1) is an inducible zinc finger transcription factor that binds
specific GC-rich enhancer elements and impacts female reproduction. These studies …

The matricellular protein CCN2 (Connective Tissue Growth Factor; CTGF) is an essential
mediator of ECM composition, as revealed through analysis of Ccn2 deficient mice. These …

Corneal injuries remain a major cause of consultation in the ophthalmology clinics
worldwide. Repair of corneal wounds is a complex mechanism that involves cell death …

Background Nischarin (encoded by NISCH), an α5 integrin–binding protein, has been
identified as a regulator of breast cancer cell invasion. We hypothesized that it might be a …

Background Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear enzyme that plays
critical functions in many biological processes, including DNA repair and gene transcription …

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF-1/CIP1/MDA-6 (p21) plays a key role in cell
cycle inhibition and apoptosis, and is negatively regulated during cell proliferation …

Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for the development of lung carcinoma. One
characteristic shared by tobacco‐related lung diseases is altered lung connective tissue …