Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling 

About: Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling is an academic journal published by Springer Science+Business Media. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Biology. It has an ISSN identifier of 1873-9601. Over the lifetime, 729 publications have been published receiving 16794 citations.

The role of osteopontin in inflammatory processes

Abstract: Osteopontin (OPN) is a matricellular protein that mediates diverse biological functions. OPN is involved in normal physiological processes and is implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of disease states, including atherosclerosis, glomerulonephritis, cancer, and several chronic inflammatory diseases. Through interactions with several integrins, OPN mediates cell migration, adhesion, and survival in many cell types. OPN also functions as a Th1 cytokine, promotes cell-mediated immune responses, and plays a role in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Besides its function in inflammation, OPN is also a regulator of biomineralization and a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification.

The role of tenascin-C in tissue injury and tumorigenesis.

Abstract: The extracellular matrix molecule tenascin-C is highly expressed during embryonic development, tissue repair and in pathological situations such as chronic inflammation and cancer. Tenascin-C interacts with several other extracellular matrix molecules and cell-surface receptors, thus affecting tissue architecture, tissue resilience and cell responses. Tenascin-C modulates cell migration, proliferation and cellular signaling through induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oncogenic signaling molecules amongst other mechanisms. Given the causal role of inflammation in cancer progression, common mechanisms might be controlled by tenascin-C during both events. Drugs targeting the expression or function of tenascin-C or the tenascin-C protein itself are currently being developed and some drugs have already reached advanced clinical trials. This generates hope that increased knowledge about tenascin-C will further improve management of diseases with high tenascin-C expression such as chronic inflammation, heart failure, artheriosclerosis and cancer.

3D tumour models: novel in vitro approaches to cancer studies

Abstract: 3D in vitro models have been used in cancer research as a compromise between 2-dimensional cultures of isolated cancer cells and the manufactured complexity of xenografts of human cancers in immunocompromised animal hosts. 3D models can be tailored to be biomimetic and accurately recapitulate the native in vivo scenario in which they are found. These 3D in vitro models provide an important alternative to both complex in vivo whole organism approaches, and 2D culture with its spatial limitations. Approaches to create more biomimetic 3D models of cancer include, but are not limited to, (i) providing the appropriate matrix components in a 3D configuration found in vivo, (ii) co-culturing cancer cells, endothelial cells and other associated cells in a spatially relevant manner, (iii) monitoring and controlling hypoxia- to mimic levels found in native tumours and (iv) monitoring the release of angiogenic factors by cancer cells in response to hypoxia. This article aims to overview current 3D in vitro models of cancer and review strategies employed by researchers to tackle these aspects with special reference to recent promising developments, as well as the current limitations of 2D cultures and in vivo models. 3D in vitro models provide an important alternative to both complex in vivo whole organism approaches, and 2D culture with its spatial limitations. Here we review current strategies in the field of modelling cancer, with special reference to advances in complex 3D in vitro models.

VEGF-A/VEGFR2 signaling network in endothelial cells relevant to angiogenesis

Abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is essential for endothelial cell functions associated with angiogenesis. Signal transduction networks initiated by VEGFA/VEGFR2, the most prominent ligand-receptor complex in the VEGF system, leads to endothelial cell proliferation, migration, survival and new vessel formation involved in angiogenesis. Considering its biomedical importance, we have developed the first comprehensive map of endothelial cell-specific signaling events of VEGFA/VEGFR2 system pertaining to angiogenesis. Screening over 20,000 published research articles and following the post-translational modification (PTM) and site specificity of VEGFR2, we have documented 240 proteins and their diverse PTM-dependent reactions involved in VEGFA/VEGFR2 signal transduction. From the ligand-receptor complex, this map has been extended to the level of major transcriptionally regulated genes for which the signaling cascades leading to their transcription factors are reported. We believe that this map would serve as a novel platform for reference, integration, and representation and more significantly, the progressive analysis of dynamic features of VEGF signaling in endothelial cells including their cross-talks with other ligand-receptor systems involved in angiogenesis.

Proteasome inhibitors in cancer therapy

Abstract: The ubiquitin proteasome pathway plays a critical role in regulating many processes in the cell which are important for tumour cell growth and survival. Inhibition of proteasome function has emerged as a powerful strategy for anti-cancer therapy. Clinical validation of the proteasome as a therapeutic target was achieved with bortezomib and has prompted the development of a second generation of proteasome inhibitors with improved pharmacological properties. This review summarises the main mechanisms of action of proteasome inhibitors in cancer, the development of proteasome inhibitors as therapeutic agents and the properties and progress of next generation proteasome inhibitors in the clinic.