The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway components are functional and activated by mechanical loading in PDL cells. β-catenin serves as an effector of mechanical signals in PDL cells.
Protein calorie malnutrition and disease are frequently associated. Protein malnutrition modifies both the specific and nonspecific resistance of the organism to infectious agents. The exact mechanisms underlying these findings are not clear. Cellular adhesion is a crucial step in the process of phagocytosis as well as cellular migration. The effect of a low-protein diet on adhesion of macrophages was studied using an experimental murine model. We used malnourished mice that had lost 30% of their initial body weight. We then injected them with a suspension of sodium caseinate and harvested the peritoneal macrophages after 5 days. The cells were then allowed to adhere to cover slips in the presence or absence of 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) in the medium for time periods of 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. Macrophage adhesion to glass slips whose surface had been covered with type I collagen was performed only for 90 min. The expression of fibronectin was studied using an immunohistochemical technique only in the 90-min assay. The results indicate that (1) protein malnutrition impairs the activation potential of macrophages, decreasing their adhesion and expression of fibronectin; (2) when FCS is present in the medium, there is a decrease in the number of adhered cells.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.