Expression of CD44V2 in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and in urine

CD44 is the principal cell surface receptor for hyaluronate. Variant forms of the receptor, produced by alternative splicing, have been found to be associated with tumor progression in a variety of cancers. Based on investigations at the RNA level, it has recently been proposed that expression of CD44 variant V2 was present in urothelial cancer but not in normal urothelium. Since a distinctive marker for urothelial cancer would be extremely useful, frozen sections of normal urothelium and urothelial cancer were examined for expression of standard CD44 and CD44V2. Frozen sections of specimens of 35 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, 16 specimens of normal bladder and 5 ureters were examined. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using a polyclonal antibody to CD44V2 (PAB CD44V2), a monoclonal antibody to CD44V2 (MAB CD44V2) and a monoclonal antibody to CD44S (MAB CD44S). CD44V2 and CD44S were also measured in lysates of urine sediments from 21 patients by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). All investigated transitional cell carcinomas expressed CD44V2. There was no differentiation between invasive and noninvasive carcinoma. CD44V2 was also expressed in normal urothelium. Standard CD44 was expressed by the transitional cell carcinoma, normal urothelium, musculature and interstitial tissue. The amount of CD44V2 and CD44S in lysates of urine sediments is not correlated to diagnosis. In contrast to investigations at the RNA level, CD44V2 on the protein level seems not to be a distinctive marker for urothelial cancer. Therefore, CD44V2 will not be a useful diagnostic marker for detection of transitional cell carcinoma.     

Soluble CD14 but not interleukin-6 is a new marker for clinical activity in atopic dermatitis

Summary Levels of soluble IL-2 receptors, IL-6, soluble CD23, soluble CD14 and ECP (eosinophilic cationic protein) were measured as markers of T-cell, B-cell, monocyte and eosinophilic leucocyte activation in 26 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) on admission to (A) and at discharge from (D) the Department of Dermatology in Zurich. The serum levels of sIL-2R, IL-6, sCD23, sCD14 and ECP were significantly elevated in AD patients in comparison with the normal values of healthy donors. A significant decrease in sIL-2R (p=0.0093) and in sCD14 (p=0.0134) levels was demonstrated between A and D, correlating with the improvement in the skin intensity score (SIS). In addition, a significant correlation of the sCD14 levels and the SIS at A was demonstrated (p=0.0415). These results also incriminate monocytes in the pathogenesis of AD, indicating that, besides sIL-2R and ECP, SCD14 could also be a possible marker for the disease activity.     

The expression of the B-cell marker mb-1 (CD79a) in Hodgkin's disease

Recent evidence indicates that membrane-bound immunoglobulin on B lymphocytes is associated with a molecule which comprises the products of the mb-1 and B29 genes. This molecule is a highly specific marker for B-cells, presumably because of its central functional role in antigen triggering, and has recently been clustered as CD79a at the 5th Leucocyte Workshop. Recently there has been controversy surrounding reports of B-cell antigen expression by Reed–Sternberg and related cells, and we have therefore studied 108 cases of Hodgkin's disease immunohistochemically using a novel antibody which detects mb-1 protein in paraffin sections. The results were compared with those achieved using antibody L26 to detect CD20. The mb-1 protein was present in the neoplastic cells in all 14 cases of lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease studied, and CD20 immunoreactivity was also found in seven of the eight cases of this subtype studied. Of the non-lymphocyte predominance cases, 20% (19/94) expressed mb-1 and 30% (20/67) CD20 in the Reed–Sternberg cells, but the cells positive for either of these two markers usually constituted only a very small proportion of the neoplastic population. However, in occasional cases (one of 94 for mb-1 and five of 67 for CD20), more than 50% of the neoplastic cells expressed one or both B-cell antigens. These results confirm the B-cell origin of the neoplastic cells in lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease, but they also indicate that, contrary to our previous study, mb-1 expression may occasionally be found in what appears, on histological grounds, to be other types of Hodgkin's disease.     

IgE and atopy in perinatally HIV-infected children

Elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and increased prevalence of atopy is reported in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The elevated serum IgE may be attributed to polyclonal stimulation of B cells or IgE production against allergens, viruses, fungi and bacteria. This study investigates the prevalence of atopy in perinatally HIV-infected children, and the relationships between serum IgE (and other serum immunoglobulins) with atopy, CD4+ cell count and HIV-disease stage. Serum immunoglobulin levels, epicutaneous skin test for common aeroallergens, clinical Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classification, CD4+ cell counts and allergy history were extracted from the charts of perinatally HIV-infected children on highly active antiretroviral therapy. The prevalence of atopy (52%) and the pattern of aeroallergen sensitivity were comparable with the US pediatric population. Serum IgE levels did not correlate with clinical disease stage. However, in non-atopic patients, serum IgE levels increased with disease progression (p = 0.02). There was an inverse relationship between the prevalence of elevated serum IgE levels and atopy with progression of disease (p = 0.019). Serum IgE did not correlate with atopy, CD4+ cell count, or duration of HIV infection or levels of serum immunoglobulins. This is the first study to show no increased prevalence of atopy in perinatally HIV-infected children compared with the general population. In advanced stages of HIV, elevated serum IgE may be specific for antigens other than those known as allergens.     

Production and characterization of a new monoclonal antibody effective in recognizing the CD3 T-cell associated antigen in formalin-fixed embedded tissue

Phenotypic analysis of lymphoproliferative disorders is now considered mandatory for accurate classification which is the basis for optimum patient management. This is presently carried out in most cases using a range of antibodies recognizing B and T-cell antigens effective in paraffin sections, and an antibody to CD3 is currently a key member of such panels, indicating T-cell phenotype. Current antibodies to CD3 are polyclonal with the inherent disadvantages of this type of reagent compared to monoclonal antibodies. In this study, we have used a recombinant fusion protein representing part of the epsilon subunit of the CD3 molecule to generate a novel monoclonal antibody (NCL-CD3-PS1) effective in paraffin sections. The antibody has been characterized biochemically and by immunohistochemistry using a wide range of normal and pathological tissues. Lineage and phenotype specificity have been supported in our study and results from other laboratories are awaited with interest.     

胶质瘤组织中CD105与Ki-67表达的相关性

目的探讨胶质瘤组织中CD105与Ki-67表达的相关性。方法对58例胶质瘤和10例正常脑组织标本采用免疫组织化学方法检测CD105和Ki-67蛋白表达情况,并分析其相关性。结果①正常脑组织CD105蛋白表达阴性,而各级胶质瘤组织均有CD105蛋白阳性表达。高倍视野(×200倍)下Ⅰ～Ⅳ级胶质瘤组织CD105标染的微血管密度(CD105-MVD)分别为(6.33±2.97)个/视野、(10.69±2.88)个/视野、(19.13±5.14)个/视野和(25.13±5.51)个/视野,随病理分级提高逐渐增高(r=0.834,P<0.01),且不同级别胶质瘤间差异显著(P<0.01)。②Ⅰ～Ⅳ级胶质瘤组织Ki-67标记指数(Ki-67LI)分别为(4.20±1.30)%、(5.32±2.08)%、(9.88±3.24)%和(22.25±6.68)%,随病理分级升高逐渐增高(r=0.872,P<0.01),与正常脑组织比均有显著性差异(P<0.01)。除Ⅰ、Ⅱ级胶质瘤间无明显差异(P>0.05)外,其他各级别胶质瘤间均相差显著(P<0.01)。③CD105-MVD与Ki-67LI呈显著正相关(r=0.699,P<0.01)。结论胶质瘤组织中CD105-MVD与Ki-67LI有显著相关性,提示其可作为判断胶质瘤恶性程度的指标。     

TK/GCV、CD/5-Fc双自杀基因系统治疗结肠癌的实验研究

目的观察胸苷激酶/丙氧鸟苷(TK/GCV)、胞嘧啶脱氨酶/5-氟胞嘧啶(CD/5-Fc)双自杀基因系统对结肠癌的治疗效果,并结合研究结果进行作用机理的分析。方法采用培养细胞移植法,将人结肠癌细胞系SW480接种于裸鼠背部皮下,建立裸鼠人结肠癌移植瘤模型。将32只裸鼠随机分为4组:空白对照组,TK/GCV治疗组,CD/5-Fc治疗组,TK/GCV CD/5-Fc联合治疗组,每组8只。TK/GCV CD/5-Fc采用逆转录病毒介导,采用瘤体内直接注射法,同时腹腔注射GCV、5-Fc治疗,观察各组小鼠的生存状况及肿瘤体积、瘤重、肿瘤生长抑制率、常规病理、生存期等指标,比较观察各治疗组的治疗效果及对荷瘤裸鼠存活的影响。结果各治疗组裸鼠人结肠癌移植瘤的生长均受到显著抑制,治疗后各组体积数增加(P<0.05),治疗组裸鼠存活期显著延长,TK/GCV CD/5-Fc联合治疗组效果最好,疗效q值=1.675>1.15,即TK/GCV、CD/5-Fc有交互协同作用。结论TK/GCV与CD/5-Fc对人结肠癌SW480细胞有明显抑制作用,TK/GCV、CD/5-Fc双自杀基因系统效果更强。     

心脏移植急性排斥反应与CD8+CD28+T细胞钙离子浓度变化的相关性研究

目的：探讨CD8^＋CD28^＋T细胞钙离子浓度的变化与心脏移植急性排斥反应（AR）的相关关系。方法：用流式细胞仪检测正常SD大鼠组（T0组）、同种心脏移植组（T1）（Wistar→SD大鼠）术后第1、3、5、7天CD8^＋CD28^＋T细胞内钙离子浓度的变化，分析CD8^＋CD28^＋T细胞内钙离子浓度的变化与心脏移植AR程度的相关关系。结果：CD8^＋CD28^＋T细胞内钙离子浓度升高与AR严重程度成正相关，相关系数为0．469，相关具有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论：心脏移植后CD8^＋CD28^＋T细胞内钙离子浓度显著升高，其升高程度与AR严重程度成正相关。