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Both genetic alterations and epigenetic factors contribute to the switch of the angiogenic phenotype in pathological tissues. Although signaling pathways of individual angiogenic factors are relatively well characterized, the complex interplay between these angiogenic factors in the tumor environment remains poorly understood. Recent work demonstrates that tumor-derived angiogenic factors display intimate cross-communications at the ligand, receptor and intracellular signaling levels to promote tumor angiogenesis. The dynamic interplay between these angiogenic factors might lead to the switch of angiogenic profiles, alteration of the vascular architecture and function, shifting targets of antiangiogenic drugs, and development of drug resistance. This article highlights several recent examples of positive and negative interplays between tumor-produced angiogenic factors and proposes a new paradigm for therapeutic intervention of tumor angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is very clear that activation of β-catenin through the canonical Wnt -pathway plays a role in a multitude of human cancers, it has also been noted time and time again that activation of β-catenin is observed in tumors without any clear mutation in any of the major components of the pathway or any increase in Wnt signaling. This suggests that other factors maybe capable of inducing activation and downstream signaling via β-catenin. Indeed, multiple growth factor and developmental signaling pathways have been found to transactivate β-catenin. It is also reasonable to consider the converse: that the Wnt pathway is capable of transactivating other signaling pathways. In fact, multiple studies have outlined the capability of Wnt signaling to activate other pathways in various types of cancer. Such association has led to the initiative to develop approaches to therapy that are capable of targeting both the Wnt pathway and the pathways it crosstalks with simultaneously. The crosstalk that occurs between Wnt and other signaling pathways will be explored in this chapter with a primary focus on how these pathways interact in the development and progression of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors are signaling molecules that play a crucial role in the coordination of immune responses throughout the body and communication between the immune system and the CNS. Consequently, dysregulation of chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors may facilitate the development of several central nervous system (CNS) diseases. For example, HIV-1 associated dementia (HAD), Alzheimer΄s disease (AD), and multiple sclerosis (MS) share certain characteristics in their pathogenesis, which include activated macrophage/microglia, production of high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and impairment of neuronal function. The relationship between disturbances of the immune response and the impairment of neuronal function is the subject of intense investigation. This chapter provides an overview of chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors and their roles in various pathological conditions. Understanding the involvement of chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors in the pathogenesis of CNS diseases may potentially provide the opportunity to identify particular therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twist ye, twine ye! even so Mingle shades of joy and woe, Hope and fear, and peace and strife, In the thread of human life. All molecules in a living organism serve a purpose, and we cannot say that a particular type is more important than any other. Nevertheless, it would be difficult to identify substances that play more varied and central roles than do the biopolymers. They contribute to the mechanical structure, and in the animal kingdom they provide the means of motion. They facilitate transport of smaller chemical units and mediate the chemical interaction between molecules, the biopolymers that serve this catalytic function being the proteins known as enzymes. There are biopolymers that form the immunological system and others that are involved in the mechanism of tissue differentiation. With so many functions to be fulfilled, we should expect to find many different types of these ubiquitous molecules, and this is certainly the case. It is believed, for example, that there are several hundred distinct enzymes within each cell of a higher organism such as a mammal. Even the task of perpetuating and translating the genetic message is entrusted to biopolymers. The body of a typical mammal is mostly water – about 65% by weight in fact – but of the solid components no group is better represented than the proteins; they make up about 15% of the total weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wider and wider is the interest in different clinical ambits in the application of haemocomponents produced from peripheral blood for regenerative purposes. These are mainly made up of concentrated platelets capable of releasing locally growth factor (GF) that stimulates tissue regeneration. Our group has devised a method to produce a new leucocyte-platelet haemocomponent enriched in fibrinogen that integrates the GF stimulus with the presence of cells involved in the regenerative processes: monocytes and stem cells. The use of the cell separator to collect these haemocomponents from peripheral blood has allowed us to realize a safe standardized product, with good regenerative potentiality and reasonable costs. This is obtained by modifying some parameters of separation, and without cell manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Molecular Mechanism of Liver Development and Regeneration," by Naoki Tanimizu and Atsushi Miyajima, is presented.