Research:
1) Cancer Biology: Fibroblast growth factor signaling plays an important role in a variety of processes, including cellular proliferation, cellular differentiation, wound repair, angiogenesis, and carcinogenesis . The FGFR3 family of membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase receptors consists of four members (FGFR1-4) that differ in their tissue expression, specificity for ligand, signal pathways, and biological effects. FGFR3 has been demonstrated to either stimulate or prohibit cell proliferation, depending on the tissue type. FGFR3 may exert a negative effect on cellular proliferation through the activation of growth-inhibitory pathways.
2) Molecular Cell Biology of Medicine:Cells need to adhere specifically to cellular and extracellular components of their environment to carry out diverse physiological functions. We examine whether fibronectin (FN) and FGF can cooperate for neuronal adhesion and neurite outgrowth. Using recombinant FN peptide (FNIII9-10), we found that FNIII9-10-mediated adhesion promotes the effect of FGF1 on neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells, while FGF1 enhances the FNIII9-10-mediated neuronal adhesion of PC12 cells. This collaboration of FNIII9-10 and FGF1 was the result of the sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-type MAP kinase.
3) Medical Biotechnology: The surface of titanium implants is in direct contact with host tissue and plays a critical role in determining biocompatibility. Fibronectin (FN) and vitronectin (VN) are major cell adhesive proteins found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of various tissues, and in circulating blood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the engineered biomimetic surface of titanium by using recombinant fragment of FN(8-10) and VN(NTD) that contains the binding site for integrins. MC3T3-E1 cells seeded upon the FN(8-10)-coated titanium showed a marked increase in cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation over VN(NTD)-coated titanium.