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Biomedical subjects

Shaker Mousa

Publications and source records attributed to Shaker Mousa.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Blood compatible carbon nanotubes--nano-based neoproteoglycans.

Although nanotechnology has provided a rich variety of nanomaterials (1-100 nm) for in vivo medical applications, the blood compatibility of all these nanobiomaterials is still largely unexamined. Here, we report the preparation of blood-compatible carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that potentially represent the building blocks for nanodevices having in vivo applications. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thromboelastography (TEG) studies prove that heparinization can significantly enhance the blood compatibility of nanomaterials.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Ionic liquid-derived blood-compatible composite membranes for kidney dialysis.

A novel heparin- and cellulose-based biocomposite is fabricated by exploiting the enhanced dissolution of polysaccharides in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). This represents the first reported example of using a new class of solvents, RTILs, to fabricate blood-compatible biomaterials. Using this approach, it is possible to fabricate the biomaterials in any form, such as films or membranes, fibers (nanometer- or micron-sized), spheres (nanometer- or micron-sized), or any shape using templates. In this work, we have evaluated a membrane film of this composite. Surface morphological studies on this biocomposite film showed the uniformly distributed presence of heparin throughout the cellulose matrix. Activated partial thromboplastin time and thromboelastography demonstrate that this composite is superior to other existing heparinized biomaterials in preventing clot formation in human blood plasma and in human whole blood. Membranes made of these composites allow the passage of urea while retaining albumin, representing a promising blood-compatible biomaterial for renal dialysis, with a possibility of eliminating the systemic administration of heparin to the patients undergoing renal dialysis.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Integrin alphaVbeta3 contains a cell surface receptor site for thyroid hormone that is linked to activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and induction of angiogenesis.

Integrin alpha(V)beta(3) is a heterodimeric plasma membrane protein whose several extracellular matrix protein ligands contain an RGD recognition sequence. This study identifies integrin alpha(V)beta(3) as a cell surface receptor for thyroid hormone [L-T(4) (T(4))] and as the initiation site for T(4)-induced activation of intracellular signaling cascades. Integrin alpha(V)beta(3) dissociably binds radiolabeled T(4) with high affinity, and this binding is displaced by tetraiodothyroacetic acid, alpha(V)beta(3) antibodies, and an integrin RGD recognition site peptide. CV-1 cells lack nuclear thyroid hormone receptor, but express plasma membrane alpha(V)beta(3); treatment of these cells with physiological concentrations of T(4) activates the MAPK pathway, an effect inhibited by tetraiodothyroacetic acid, RGD peptide, and alpha(V)beta(3) antibodies. Inhibitors of T(4) binding to the integrin also block the MAPK-mediated proangiogenic action of T(4). T(4)-induced phosphorylation of MAPK is inhibited by small interfering RNA knockdown of alpha(V) and beta(3). These findings suggest that T(4) binds to alpha(V)beta(3) near the RGD recognition site and show that hormone-binding to alpha(V)beta(3) has physiological consequences.

Animals↗

Overexpression of estrogen receptor-alpha in the endometrial carcinoma cell line Ishikawa: inhibition of growth and angiogenic factors.

BACKGROUND: A high level of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) is believed to be favorable in the prognosis and treatment of endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer. High levels of ER-alpha have been shown to inhibit the growth and invasive, metastatic potential of breast cancer cell lines. To bring about these inhibitory effects, ER-alpha probably acts through other cellular factors involved in the regulation of cell growth. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of high levels ER-alpha in growth inhibition of endometrial cancer cells. METHODS: A human ER-alpha cDNA was stably overexpressed in an endometrial cancer cell line, namely, Ishikawa. ER-alpha-overexpressing, parent, and control Ishikawa cells were grown in vitro and their growth rates were compared by cell count. ER-alpha-overexpressing and parent Ishikawa cells were also grown in vitro as tumors in a chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model, and tumor growth and angiogenesis was measured. Finally, levels of angiogenesis-modulating factors, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were examined in relation to ER overexpression. RESULTS: The growth of Ishikawa cells was found inhibited in culture as well as in the CAM model. Angiogenesis of CAM tumors was also found inhibited in ER-overexpressing cells. Angiogenic factor VEGF was inhibited whereas the activity of NOS was found elevated following ER overexpression. CONCLUSION: Our work on the Ishikawa cell line indicates that high levels of ER-alpha in endometrial cancer may inhibit cancer growth by modulating angiogenic factors, thereby limiting the blood supply to the growing tumor. Our results support the earlier data from other groups that have shown a positive correlation between high ER content and better prognosis of endometrial cancers.

Animals↗

Oncothanin, a peptide from the alpha3 chain of type IV collagen, modifies endothelial cell function and inhibits angiogenesis.

Previous studies from our group and the group of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Rheims, France [corrected] have shown that basement membrane (BM) collagen from anterior lens capsule type IV collagen (ALC-COL IV) and peptides from the noncollagenous domain (NC1) of the alpha3(IV) [corrected] chain, corresponding to residues 185-203 and 179-208, inhibit tumor cell proliferation, specifically through the interaction of the -SNS- tripeptide (residues 189-191) with the CD47/alphavbeta3 integrin receptor complex. Data presented here demonstrate that the alpha3(IV)185-203 and the alpha3(IV)179-208 peptides, from here forward [corrected] designated as oncothanin, regulate endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, adhesion, and motility which [corrected] ultimately influence angiogenesis. The data also indicate that oncothanin, when used as a chemoattractant, greatly enhanced EC chemotaxis. In contrast, pretreatment of EC with oncothanin inhibited chemotaxis toward several different chemoattractants. When oncothanin was used as a substrate, it enhanced EC adhesion that was inhibited when pretreated with same. Analysis of angiogenesis by EC differentiation (tube formation), aortic ring microvessel formation [corrected] and the chorioallantoic membrane assay, [corrected] demonstrate that oncothanin, but not the control medium or peptides, inhibits angiogenesis. In the EC differentiation assay, oncothanin completely inhibited tube formation at 25 microg/ml, whereas peptides with comparable sequences, that lacked [corrected] the -SNS- sequence, from ALC-COL IV NC1 domains alpha1 and alpha2 chains failed to inhibit tube formation. The data support the hypothesis that ALC-COL IV and oncothanin inhibit angiogenesis by modulation of EC function.

Animals↗

Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis: a regional consensus.

Considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The clinical applications of molecular techniques have allowed identification of important inherited, yet not uncommon, risk factors for VTE, such as mutations that cause Factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A. However, advances in our understanding have raised several questions regarding the need for, and duration of anticoagulation. At the end of the treatment period, low molecular weight heparins have become the drugs of choice and standard-of-care for VTE. In this review, cost effective diagnostic approaches for patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis, and recommended treatment options using evidence-based approaches, are described.

Anticoagulants↗