Structurally different RGTAs modulate collagen-type expression by cultured aortic smooth muscle cells via different pathways involving fibroblast growth factor-2 or transforming growth factor-ß1 CATHERINE ALEXAKIS 1 , PATRICIA MESTRIES 1 , STÉPHANIE GARCIA, EMMANUEL PETIT, VÉRONIQUE BARBIER, DULCE PAPY-GARCIA, MARIE-ASTRIDE SAGOT * , DENIS BARRITAULT, JEAN PIERRE CARUELLE and PATRICK KERN 2 CRRET/CNRS FRE 2412, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Paris 12, Créteil Cedex, France; and * Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et d’Immunologie, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France 2 Correspondence: CRRET/CNRS FRE 2412, Laboratoire CRRET, Université Paris 12 Val de Marne, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil cedex, France. E-mail: kern@univ-paris12.fr <h3>SPECIFIC AIMS</h3> The aim of this study was to understand the mode of action of a new family of drugs elaborated in our laboratory, named RGTAs (for regenerating agent), in the control of collagen synthesis and prevention of fibrosis during atherosclerosis development. RGTAs are synthetic polymers engineered to mimic the protective and potentiating properties of heparan sulfates toward heparin binding growth factors such as FGF-2 and TGF-ß1. RGTAs enhance the quality and speed of repair of several tissues and exhibit antifibrotic properties. We have investigated the possibility that RGTAs may modulate collagen-type expression via pathways
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