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Cellular proliferation, as a result of cell growth and cell division, is one of the most fundamental biological processes. Although there is a great deal which remains unclear, significant advances have been made in past decades in our understanding of the process and regulation of cell proliferation. There is considerable evidence that this understanding of different cells and cell proliferation behavior provides useful information that may be of major importance in disease control, drug discovery, biomaterial development and medical device improvement. This book studies and discusses recent developments in the field of cell proliferation including: the controlling factors for cell proliferation; changes occurring in the cells; therapeutic effects of the biological molecules to the cells; and analysis of cell proliferation based on the quantal concept. Furthermore, the effects that biomaterials and drugs have on cell proliferation are also reviewed in this book.

When used in the context of reproduction of living cells the phrase'cell growth'is shorthand for the idea of'growth in cell populations by means of cell reproduction.'During cell reproduction one cell (the'mother'cell) divides to produce two daughter cells. Cell proliferation, which depends on the intimately linked processes of growth and division, is a fundamental systems-level attribute of all life forms. The precise regulation of proliferation in response to internal and external cues is critical for development, tissue renewal and evolutionary fitness, while the disregulation of cell proliferation underlies a variety of human diseases, most notably cancer and aging. Historically, breakthroughs in our understanding of cell growth and division have derived from cross-fertilization of results and ideas from researchers studying a wide range of model organisms, from yeast to humans. The basis for cell proliferation entails the control of key signaling and cell cycle regulators through transcriptional, translational, post-translational, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Indeed, many conceptual breakthroughs in cell regulation have derived from analyses of basic cell cycle mechanisms. This nwe book is dedicated to new research from around the globe in this field.

For the first time world-leading experts in the area of cellular signaling have joined to the production of a book on Smad signal transduction. Smads are the principal intracellular effectors of TGF-b family members that control numerous cellular responses with critical roles in development and in tissue homeostasis. In a series of 22 cutting-edge chapters forward looking reviews of Smads are provided that cover their discovery, evolution, role in development, mechanism of action and regulation, and how deregulation in Smad signalling contributes to human diseases. Written for an audience with basic understanding of molecular and cell biology, this volume provides an in-depth review of a rapidly developing field and extensive cross-references between chapters are provided. This book will be of particular interest to basic and applied biomedical researchers (students, post-docs or group leaders) with desire to understand the principles of cell-cell communication and mechanisms by which signaling pathways and gene programs control cell proliferation and differentiation, and how this knowledge may come to be applied in the clinic.

Current Topics in Developmental Biology

The purpose of this book is to provide information on senescent cells and why they are prevented from multiplying via cell division. It includes main sections on the nature of Go/1 transition, factors promoting the cell cycle traverse and avoiding the Go/1 arrest, and negative factors arresting the cell cycle traverse and promoting the stay in the Go/1 stage. Filled with illustrations and explanations, it collectively presents the mechanisms that control the cellular aging process. This reference is a must for anyone with special interests in the biological community, and specifically the field of gerontology.