Clinicopathologic significance of BAG1 and TIMP3 expression in colon carcinoma

AIM: To explore the expression of BAG1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) in colon carcinoma and their correlation and clinicopathologic significance. METHODS: SABC immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of BAG1 and TIMP3 in 80 colon carcinoma tissues and 20 normal colonic mucosa. RESULTS: Positive rate of BAG1 in colon carcinoma tissue (80%) was notably higher compared to normal colonic mucosa (10%) (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in positive rate of TIMP3 in colon carcinoma tissue (43.75%) as compared with normal colonic mucosa (60%) (P > 0.05). Expression of BAG1 and TIMP3 was strongly associated with colon carcinoma differentiation, Duke's staging, lymph node metastasis and survival rate (P < 0.05), but not associated with gender and age. Moreover, BAG1 expression was not correlated with TIMP3. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that over-expression of BAG1 or attenuated expression of TIMP3 may play an important role in genesis and development of colon carcinoma. The protein expression levels of BAG1 and TIMP3 are related to the malignant degree, infiltration and metastasis of colon carcinoma. BAG1 and TIMP3 might be new biological parameters in predicting invasion and metastasis of colon carcinoma.

Thrombospondin-1 expression correlates with angiogenesis in experimental cirrhosis

AIM:To investigate the significance of Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) expression and its relationship with angiogenesis during experimental fibrosis. METHODS:Cirrhosis was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of diethyl nitrosamine (DEN). The serial sections from liver tissues were stained with anti-CD34 and anti-TSP-1 antibodies before being quantitated by light microscopy. RESULTS:Our results showed that of TSP-1 expression gradually increases according to the severity of fibrosis (GroupⅠvs group Ⅱ, Group Ⅲ and Group Ⅳ;Group Ⅱ vs group Ⅲ and group Ⅳ;group Ⅲ vs group Ⅳ, P < 0.05). Moreover, TSP-1 expression was found to be correlated with angiogenesis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:The correlative evidence of the link between TSP-1 and fibrosis or angiogenesis provided by this study suggests that besides its role as a strong promoter of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), TSP-1 might have an additional role in liver fibrogenesis by stimulating angiogenesis and this protein could be a potential target to prevent fibrogenesis in chronic inflammatory diseases of the liver.

High densities of serotonin and peptide YY cells in the colon of patients with lymphocytic colitis

AIM： TO investigate colonic endocrine cells in lympho- cytic colitis （LC） patients. METHODS： Fifty-seven patients with LC were in- cluded. These patients were 41 females and 16 males, with an average age of 49 years （range 19-84 years）. Twenty-seven subjects that underwent colonoscopy with biopsies were used as controls. These subjects underwent colonoscopy because of gastrointestinal bleeding or health worries, where the source of bleed- ing was identified as haemorrhoids or angiodysplasia. They were 19 females and 8 males with an average age of 49 years （range 18-67 years）. Biopsies from the right and left colon were obtained from both patients and controls during colonoscopy. Biopsies were fixed in 4% buffered paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin and cut into 5 μm-thick sections. The sections immunostained by the avidin-biotin-complex method for se- rotonin, peptide YY （PYY）, pancreatic polypeptide （PP） enteroglucagon and somatostatin cells. The cell densi- ties were quantified by computerised image analysis using Olympus software. RESULTS： The colon of both the patient and the control subjects were macroscopically normal. Histo- pathological examination of colon biopsies from con- trols revealed normal histology. All patients fulfilled the diagnosis criteria required for of LC： an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes （〉 20 lymphocytes/100 epithelial cells） and surface epithelial damage with increased lamina propria plasma cells and absent or minimal crypt architectural distribution. In the colon of both patients and control subjects, serotonin-, PYY-, PP-, enteroglucagon- and somatostatin-immunoreac- tive cells were primarily located in the upper part of the crypts of Lieberk0hn. These cells were basket- or flask-shaped. There was no statistically significant dif- ference between the right and left colon in controls with regards to the densities of serotonin- and PYY- immunoreactive cells （P = 0.9 and 0.1, respectively）. Serotonin cell density in the right colon in controls was 28.9 ± 1.8 and in LC patients 41.6±2.6 （P = 0.008）. In the left colon, the corresponding figures were 28.5± 1.9 and 42.4± 2.9, respectively （P = 0.009）. PYY cell density in the right colon of the controls was 10.1 ± 1 and of LC patients 41 ± 4 （P = 0.00006）. In the left colon, PYY cell density in controls was 6.6± 1.2 and in LC patients 53.3 ± 4.6 （P = 0.00007）. CONCLUSION： The change in serotonin cells could be caused by an interaction between immune cells and serotonin cells, and that of PYY density might be sec- ondary.

Clinical significance of human kallikrein 12 gene expression in gastric cancer

AIM:To investigate whether the expression of kallikrein 12(KLK12) is related to the development of gastric cancer(GC) and to determine the role of KLK12 in gastric cancer cells growth,invasion and migration.METHODS:Between September 2007 and March 2008,133 patients with histologically confirmed GC were recruited for the study.Expression of KLK12 was detected in samples from GC patients by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry.The relationship between KLK12 protein expression and clinicopathological features of GC was analyzed.The difference in 5-year survival rates between the high KLK12 protein expression group and the low KLK12 expression group was compared.Additionally,the expression of KLK12 was examined in various human GC cell lines,including MKN-28,SGC-7901 and MKN-45.Small interfering RNA(siRNA) was used to inhibit KLK12 expression in MKN-45 cells.Cell clones stably transfected with KLK12 siRNA were tested for KLK12 expression by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting.Furthermore,a series of functional assays were performed in this study to assess the biological features of transfected cells.Cell proliferation was assessed using the methylthiazolyltetrazoliumassay.Finally,cell migration and invasion were assessed using transwell chamber assays.RESULTS:Of the 133 GC patients included in the study,126(94.7%) showed a higher expression level of KLK12 mRNA when compared to noncancerous tissue specimens.Expression of KLK12 mRNA was significantly higher in GC tissues than in normal tissue(P < 0.001).KLK12 protein expression was detected in 96 of 133(72.2%) GC samples with moderate or strong staining primarily in the cytoplasm.In contrast,negative immunostaining for KLK12 protein was observed in the corresponding normal gastric mucosal tissue.Overexpression of KLK12 protein was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis(P = 0.001),histological type(P < 0.001) and tumor-node-metastasis stage(P = 0.005),while no significant correlation was observed between expression of KLK12 protein and sex,age,depth of invasion,tumor size or lymphatic invasion.Furthermore,patients with high KLK12 expression had a significantly poorer 5-year survival rate than those with low KLK12 expression(P = 0.002).Expression of KLK12 mRNA was significantly higher in MKN-45 GC cells compared to normal mucosal cells or two other GC cell lines(P < 0.01).Expression of KLK12 in MKN-45 cells was downregulated after transfection with siRNA.Knockdown of KLK12 markedly decreased the proliferation of MKN-45 cells when compared with parent or mock-transfected cells(P = 0.001),especially from the 3rd to the 5th day of the assay.In migration assays,fewer KLK12 siRNA cells migrated through the chambers(22.00 ± 1.81) when compared to the parent(46.47 ± 2.42) or mock-transfected cells(45.40 ± 1.99);these differences were statistically significant(P < 0.001).However,in the invasion assay,the number of KLK12 siRNA cells that invaded the chambers was 18.40 ± 1.12,closely similar to both the parent(18.67 ± 0.98) and mock-transfected cells(18.53 ± 0.92).There was no significantly difference between the three groups in the invasion assay(P = 0.054).CONCLUSION:The KLK12 gene is markedly overexpressed in GC tissue,and its expression status may be a powerful prognostic indicator for patients with GC.KLK12 might serve as a novel diagnosis and prognosis biomarker in GC.

Particularly interesting new cysteine-histidine rich protein expression in colorectal adenocarcinomas

AIM： To study the relationship between particularly interesting new cysteine-histidine rich protein （PINCH） expression and clinicopathological factors in Chinese colorectal cancer patients. METHODS： The expression of PINCH was examined by immumohistochemistry in 141 samples of primary colorectal adenocarcinoma and 92 normal samples of colorectal mucosa. Eighty of the cases had both primary tumour and normal mucosa from the same patients. RESULTS： PINCH was expressed in the stroma of normal mucosa and tumours. PINCH expression in tumourassociated stroma was increased compared to normal mucosa in both unmatched cases （n = 141, x^2 = 85.79, df = 3, P〈 0.0001） and matched cases （n =80, x^2= 45.86, df= 3, P〈 0.0001）. Among 135 tumours with visible invasive margin, 86 （64%） showed stronger PINCH expression at the invasive margin than in the intratumoural stroma. The frequency of PINCH strong expression in mucinous and signet-ring cell carcinomas was higher （52%） compared to non-mucinous carcinomas （29%, x^2=5.13, P= 0.02）. We did not find that PINCH expres- sion was related to patient＇s gender, age, tumour location, tumour size, gross status, histological type, differentiation, invasion depth, lymph node status and Dukes＇ stage （P 〉 0.05）.CONCLUSION： The expression of PINCH was upregulated in colorectal cancers, and especially at the margin of tumours, and further was related to mucinous and signet-ring cell carcinomas. The results suggest that expression of PINCH may be involved in the tumourigenesis and aggressiveness of colorectal cancers.

Effect of dietary supplementation with yeast cell wall extracts on performance and gut response in broiler chickens

Background:The dietary supplementation of yeast cell wall extracts(YCW)has been found to reduce pathogenic bacteria load,promote immunoglobulin production,prevent diseases by pro-inflammatory responses,and alter gut microbiota composition.This study evaluated growth and slaughter results,health,gut morphology,immune status and gut transcriptome of 576 male chickens fed two diets,i.e.C(control)or Y(with 250–500 g/t of YCW fractions according to the growth period).At 21 and 42 d the jejunum of 12 chickens per diet were sampled and stained with hematoxylin/eosin for morphometric evaluation,with Alcian-PAS for goblet cells,and antibodies against CD3+intraepithelial T-cells and CD45+intraepithelial leukocytes.The jejunum sampled at 42 d were also used for wholetranscriptome profiling.Results:Dietary YCW supplementation did not affect final live weight,whereas it decreased feed intake(114 to 111 g/d;P≤0.10)and improved feed conversion(1.74 to 1.70;P≤0.01).Regarding the gut,YCW supplementation tended to increase villi height(P=0.07);it also increased the number of goblet cells and reduced the density of CD45+cells compared to diet C(P<0.001).In the gut transcriptome,four genes were expressed more in broilers fed diet Y compared to diet C,i.e.cytochrome P450,family 2,subfamily C,polypeptide 23b(CYP2C23B),tetratricopeptide repeat domain 9(TTC9),basic helix-loop-helix family member e41(BHLHE41),and the metalloreductase STEAP4.Only one gene set(HES_PATHWAY)was significantly enriched among the transcripts more expressed in broilers fed diet Y.However,a total of 41 gene sets were significantly over-represented among genes up-regulated in control broilers.Notably,several enriched gene sets are implicated in immune functions and related to NF-κB signaling,apoptosis,and interferon signals.Conclusions:The dietary YCW supplementation improved broiler growth performance,increased gut glycoconjugate secretion and reduced the inflammatory status together with differences in the gut transcriptome,which can be considered useful to improve animal welfare and health under the challenging conditions of intensive rearing systems in broiler chickens.

Polypeptide Daintain as a New Biomarker for Detecting Breast Tumor

Daintain, a novel bioactive peptide produced and secreted by macrophages, was expressed in breast tumor tissues. The spatial distributions of daintain in 66 breast tumor specimens were investigated with immuno-histochemistry method. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and in situ hybridization inspection system were also used to detect daintain in 45 cases of malignant breast tumors. The final results show that 93% high positive responses to daintain on breast cancer tumors. RT-PCR demonstrated that, no smear of daintain transcripted in benign tissues was found, and light smear in peri-cancer tissue was observed. Distribution of daintain was distinguishable among benign tissues, hyperplasia tissues, immature hyperplasia and invasive breast cancer, which can be used to mark the progression of the malignant lesion development. We conclude that the expression of daintain is up-regulated in breast cancers, which indicates that the peptide is closely associated with the disease progression. So daintain could be used as the biomarker for detecting breast cancer.

Hepatitis C and B Virus Infection in Chinese Patients with Extrahepatic Bile Duct Carcinoma

Objective In China, the incidence of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EBDC) tends to increase over the past decades. The etiology of the noted increase in EBDC is not identified. Approximately, in a half of the overall Chinese patients with EBDC, the causative factors in the development of EBDC have not been demonstrated.There is a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) in China, both of which can induce malignant transformation of infected cells and strongly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, EBDC tissues from Chinese patients were examined for the presence of HCV and HBV infection to investigate further the potential causes of EBDC.Methods HCV NS5 protein and HBsAg were detected by labeled streptavidin biotin (LSAB) method; HCV RNA and HBV DNA were detected by in situ polymerase chain reaction (IS-PCR) in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded specimens from 51 Chinese patients with EBDC. HCV RNA and HBV DNA were detected by IS-PCR in 34 Chinese patients with specimens of benign lesions of hepatobiliary tract (control group) .Results In 51 case tissue sections of EBDC, NS5 protein was detected in 14 (27.5%), and HBsAg in 5 (9.8%), HCV RNA in 18 (35.4%) and HBV DNA in 8 (15.9%) .respectively, of which HCV and HBV co-infection was detected in 2 (3.9%). In 34 case tissue sections of the control group, HCV RNA was detected in 2 (5.9 % ), and HBV DNA in 3 (8.8%).Conclusion In this study using standard histochemical and PCR techniques, HCV and HBV genomes and their encoding proteins were detected in the tissues of EBDC. The data show that there is a higher than expected incidence of HCV and HBV presence in EBDC tissues than would be expected on serologic grounds. The detectable rate of HCV RNA in EBDC tissues was significantly higher than in control group (x2 = 9.808, P = 0.002). As a result, this study indicates that there is a correlation between the presence of HCV infection and EBDC, and HCV infection has possible etiologic significance in the development of EBDC in China. While HBV DNA was detected in EBDC tissues with the difference in the detectable rate of HBV, DNA being not significance between EBDC tissues and the control group (x2 = 0.853, P = 0.356) . Further research is necessary to determine the presence of a causal relationship between HCV/HBV infection and the development of EBDC.

Upregulation of cathepsin W-expressing T cells is specific for autoimmune atrophic gastritis compared to other types of chronic gastritis

AIM： To investigate a pathophysiological role of cathepsin W （CatW）, a putative thiol-dependent cysteine protease, which is specifically expressed in cytotoxic lymphocytes, in different types of chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa. METHODS： Gastric and duodenal biopsies of patients with Heliobacter pylori （ Hpylort）-assodated active gastritis （Hp, n = 19）, chemically induced reactive gastritis （CG, n = 17）, autoimmune atrophic gastritis （AIG, n = 20）, lymphocytic corpus gastritis （LG, n = 29）, celiac disease （CD, n = 10）, and corresponding controls （n = 24） were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of CatW and CD45. Furthermore, immunohistochemical double staining with anti-CD3 and anti-cathepsin was performed for the samples of AIG. RESULTS： Median values of CatW-expressing cells among CD45-positive immune cells were between 2% and 6% for normal gastric mucosa, CG, and LG, whereas the corresponding value was significantly increased for AIG （24.7%, P〈0.001） and significantly decreased for HP （0.7%, P〈0.05）. Double staining with anti-CD3 and antiCatW antibodies revealed that 〉90% of CatW-expressing cells in gastric mucosa of AIG were T cells. Duodenal mucosa had significantly more CatW/CD45-positive cells than normal gastric mucosa （median： 17.8% vs 2%, P〈0.01）. The corresponding proportion of CatW/CD45-positive cells was decreased in CD compared to duodenal mucosa （median： 2.1% vs 17.8%, P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION： The opposite findings regarding the presence of CatW-positive cells in AIG （increase） and CD （decrease） reflects the different cellular composition of immune cells involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

DETECTION OF POINT MUTATION OF p53 GENE BY SILVER STAINING PCR-SSCP IN PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED MALIGNANT FIBROUS HISTIOCYTOMA

Silver staining PCR-SSCP method was used to detect point mutation of p53 gene in paraffin-embedded malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) tissues. The abnormal shifting of the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) was identified in 9 out of 16 cases (56.3%). The positive figure of SSCP was 1, 4, 4, 3 in exon 5, 6, 7, 8, respectively. The mutant of p53 protein was detected by microwave oven treatment and ABC immunohistochemistry. Positive nuclear staining was observed in 10 cases (62.5%). The positive coincidence rate was 90.0% between SSCP and p53 protein expression. The mutation of p53 gene was not correlated with the subtypes of MFH. Our results indicate that detection of point mutations with silver staining PCR-SSCP is convenient, rapid and reliable in the screening of point mutation of genes.

MULTIPLE GENETIC EXPRESSION ABNORMALITIES IN GASTRIC CANCER

By means of immunohistological technique, theexpressions of p53, c-erbB-2, EGFR and ras wereexamined on the adjacent sections of 75 cases of gastriccancer (GC), and their clinicopathological and prognosticsignificance were studied. Results: 1) Overexpressionsof p53 and c-erbB-2 were early and late sign of malignantchange of gastric mucosa, respectively: EGFR and rashad close association with the degree of malignancy ofGC. 2) The expression of ras had positive relationshipwith the expression of EGFR, and negative relationshipwith c-erbB-2.3). The multivariate analysis of Cox modelof GC showed only DNA ploidy, expression of EGFR,lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis wereindependent prognostic factors of GC.

EXPRESSION OF MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN (MRP) AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and clinicopathological factors and prognosis. Methods: The expression of MRP in 62 cases with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was detected using immunohistochemistry method. The expression of MRP in 30 cases of NSCLC and corresponding normal lung tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. Results: this study of tumor tissues confirmed the plasma membrane and/or cytoplasm locations of MRP. There was apparent difference between normal lung tissues and NSCLC in MRP. The survival analysis of 62 NSCLC showed that the mean survival time of the patients with negative MRP expression was 69.8117.41 months and that of patients with positive MRP expression, 25.384.46 months. Log-rank test suggested that the difference between them was significant (P=0.0156). It was also found that in squamous cell lung cancer the statistically significant difference between the mean survival time of patients with positive MRP expression and those with negative MRP expression (P=0.0153). Multivariate Cox model analysis suggested that the survival time was significantly related to expression of MRP (P=0.035) and lymphatic metastasis (P=0.038). Conclusion: MRP expression in NSCLC is significantly higher compared with normal lung tissues. The mean survival time of patients with negative MRP was relative longer and expression of MRP was an independent factor for prognosis.

Biological Effects of bFGF on Murine Endometrium in the Process of Blastocyst Implantation

ve To study the biological effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the process of embryo implantation in mouse

MALIGNANT HISTIOCYTOSIS: A STUDY ON CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND CELL ORIGIN

Thirty- one autopsy cases previously diagnosed as malignant histiocytosis (MH) were studied by means of immunohistochemical staining. Antibodies detecting the formalin resistant epitopes on T- cells, B- cells and those of histiocyte/monocyte origin were used. It was shown that the malignant histiocytes reacted only to the cell markers derived from histlocyte/monocyte. and only a part of lymphocytes showed positive reaction to the T and B cell markers. It is suggested that the histiocyte/monocyte lineage is the possible origin of the malignant proliferating cells in MH. The clinicopathological features and the differentiation of MH from familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome and malignant lymphoma are described. The pathogenesis. the causes of death and the points for attention in the treatment of MH are also discussed.