Life Sciences Commons^™

Selective Activation Of Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (Tafi) Attenuates Metastatic And Angiogenic Capabilities Of Melanoma And Lung Carcinoma In Vitro, Jacklyn Krizsan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Metastasis and angiogenesis are hallmarks of aggressive cancers, both depending on degradation of extracellular matrix by proteases such as plasmin. Plasmin activation is inhibited by thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI)-mediated cleavage of terminal lysine residues on plasminogen receptors. Activation of TAFI is most effectively done in complex with thrombomodulin (TM). TM is known to have anti-cancer properties, but it is not known if this is due to TAFI activation or an alternative substrate protein C (PC). We hypothesize that specific promotion of TAFI activation with TM treatment will attenuate metastatic and angiogenic capabilities of tumour cells.

Melanoma and lung carcinoma cells …

The Effects Of Decellularized Adipose Tissue Constructs On Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cell Phenotype And Pro-Angiogenic Secretory Function., Yehia Moharrem

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Due to limited treatment options for critical limb ischemia (CLI), cellular-based therapies have been investigated to induce blood vessel regeneration. Bone marrow-mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (BM-MSC) have shown pre-clinical success in animal models of CLI as they possess pro-angiogenic and immunomodulatory functions. However, clinical translation has been hindered by inadequate expansion and delivery strategies. This project aimed to characterize the phenotype and pro-angiogenic secretory function of BM-MSC on decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) bioscaffolds as expansion platforms. Compared to cells grown on tissue-culture plastic, DAT substrates supported BM-MSC growth, regenerative marker expression, and pro-angiogenic secretory function. Conditioned media generated by BM-MSC cultured …

Formation Of A Vascular Regenerative Microenvironment Within Implantable Human Decellularized Adipose Tissue Bioscaffolds, Christopher Leclerc

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Cellular therapies targeted at stimulating therapeutic angiogenesis in individuals with critical limb ischemia (CLI) have been under intense investigation. Hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) derived from umbilical cord blood have been previously shown to support limb revascularization in animal models of CLI, despite limited cell survival at the site of ischemia. This study attempted to improve HPC survival after transplantation and prolong pro-angiogenic function using human decellularized adipose tissue (hDAT) as a novel cell delivery platform. Compared to HPC conventionally grown on tissue-cultured plastic, hDAT scaffolds were shown to promote viability and proliferation of seeded HPC, and had cell- instructive effects …

Investigating The Role Of Hydrogen Sulfide In The Survival, Growth And Angiogenic Potential Of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines And Xenografts, Eric Sonke

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-deficiency, resulting in pseudohypoxic, angiogenic and glycolytic tumours. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenously-produced gasotransmitter that accumulates under hypoxia and has been shown to be pro-angiogenic and cytoprotective in cancer. It was hypothesized that H₂S levels are elevated in VHL-deficient ccRCC, contributing to survival, metabolism, and angiogenesis. Using H₂S-specific probes, it was found that H₂S levels were higher in VHL-deficient ccRCC cell lines compared to cells with wild-type VHL. Inhibition of H₂S-producing enzymes could reduce the proliferation, metabolism …

The Embryonic Protein Nodal Supports Metastatic Phenotypes In Breast Cancer, Daniela F. Quail

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Metastasis is the process by which tumour cells disseminate to distant organ sites. Aberrant expression of stem cell-associated proteins within tumours is associated with metastasis and poor patient prognosis. One example of a stem cell factor that is associated with cancer progression is Nodal, a member of the TGF-β superfamily. Nodal is normally limited to pluripotent stem cells during embryonic development, and to specialized dynamic adult tissue (such as the cycling endometrium), but is aberrantly re-expressed in multiple cancer types, including melanoma, glioma, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The central objective of this thesis is to determine the role of …