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Biomedical subjects

T Rajan

Publications and source records attributed to T Rajan.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Upregulated expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mediates enhanced mitogenic responses to FGFs in cultured human lung fibroblasts.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a multifunctional cytokine that induces mesenchymal cell proliferation in vivo while inhibiting growth of most cells directly via serine-threonine receptor(s) binding/activation in vitro. In this study, the ability of TGF-beta1 to regulate the receptor expression of classical mitogenic growth factors that bind receptor tyrosine kinases was examined. TGF-beta1 markedly increased the protein expression of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors FGFR-1 (Flg) and FGFR-2 (Bek) in a time- and dose-dependent manner in human lung fibroblasts. This resulted in a potentiation of the mitogenic response of multiple FGF ligands that bind to these receptors. TGF-beta1 had no effect on epidermal growth factor (EGF) or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-beta receptor expression and the mitogenic responses mediated by specific ligands for these receptors were not increased. These results demonstrate a novel action of TGF-beta1 to selectively upregulate the expression of FGF receptor family members leading to enhanced mitogenesis by FGFs.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Cytoprotective effects of glycine and glutathione against hypoxic injury to renal tubules.

Roles for both the tripeptide, GSH, and individual amino acids in modifying the cellular response to oxygen deprivation-induced injury have been suggested by prior work in kidney and other tissues, but the precise interrelationships have not been clearly defined. We have studied the effects of GSH, its component amino acids, and related compounds on the behavior of isolated renal proximal tubules in a well characterized model of hypoxic injury in vitro. GSH, the combination of cysteine, glutamate, and glycine and glycine alone, when present in the medium during 30 min hypoxia, a duration sufficient to produce extensive irreversible injury in untreated tubules, were protective. Significant effects were detected at 0.25 mM concentrations of the reagents, and protection was nearly complete at concentrations of 1 mM and above. Glutamate and cysteine alone were not protective. The exogenous GSH added to the tubule suspensions was rapidly degraded to its component amino acids. Treatment of tubules with GSH or cysteine, but not glycine, increased intracellular GSH levels. Oxidized GSH was protective. Serine, N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine, and a panel of agents known to modify injury produced by reactive oxygen metabolites were without benefit. These observations identify a novel and potent action of glycine to modify the course of hypoxic renal tubular cell injury. This effect is independent of changes in cellular GSH metabolism and appears to be unrelated to alterations of cell thiols or reactive oxygen metabolites. Further elucidation of its mechanism may provide insight into both the basic pathophysiology of oxygen deprivation-induced cell injury and a practical way to ameliorate it.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗