Extracellular matrix remodeling in oral submucous fibrosis: its stage-specific modes revealed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chewing habit-related pre-cancerous condition of the oral mucosa affecting predominantly south Asians. It is histopathologically characterized by epithelial atrophy and fibrosis of the subepithelial connective tissue. Fibrosis extends all the way into the muscle layer, leading to difficulty in mouth opening. However, the dynamics of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling with OSF progression is largely unknown. METHODS: Forty biopsy specimens of OSF and 10 of normal buccal mucosa were examined for expression/deposition modes of eight ECM molecules by histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: In the early stage of OSF, tenascin, perlecan, fibronectin, collagen type III were characteristically enhanced in the lamina propria and the submucosal layer. In the intermediate stage, the ECM molecules mentioned above and elastin were extensively and irregularly deposited around muscle fibers. In the advanced stage, such ECM depositions decreased and were entirely replaced with collagen type I only. Their gene expression levels varied with progression of fibrosis, but the mRNA signals were confirmed in fibroblasts in the submucosal fibrotic areas. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the ECM remodeling steps in OSF are similar to each phase of usual granulation tissue formation. Restricted mouth opening may be a result of loss of variety of ECM molecules including elastin into the homogeneity of collagen type I replacing muscle fibers.     

Antisense Smad2 inhibits high glucose-stimulated production of extracellular matrix in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells

Transforminggrowthfactor-β1(TGF-β1)is amultifunctionalpolypeptidethatregulatesanum-berofcellularprocesses,includingcellprolifera-tion,differentiation,apoptosis,migration,matrix synthesis,andtheimmuneresponse[1,2].Inchron-icrenaldiseases,TGF-β1isakeymediatorofex-tracellularmatrix(ECM)accumulation[3].Oneof thetargetrenalcellsforTGF-β1isglomerular mesangialcellsthatarecapableofproducingcom-ponentsofECM,suchascollagens,lamininand fibronectin[4,5].Recentstudiesindicatedthatinhi-bitionofT…     

Raf-1 kinase,epidermal growth factor receptors,and mutant ras proteins in colonic carcinomas

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) andras mutations are known to play a significant role in controlling cell growth and tumor promotion. Both of them transmit mitogenic signals to the nucleus by activation of Raf-1 kinase. In this study, the expression of EGFR and mutant Ras proteins, and, for the first time, the expression, phosphorylation and kinase activity of Raf-1 kinase have been determined in paired samples of colorectal cancer and mucosa. The tumor and mucosa samples did not differ significantly with regard to Raf-1 kinase content and activity. A major difference between tumors and mucosa was found, however, in the phosphorylation of Raf-1. Most of the mucosa samples (13/20), but only 1/20 of the cancer samples, contained hyperphosphorylated Raf-1. EGFR were significantly (p=0.0025) decreased in the tumors. The decreased phosphorylation of Raf-1 in colonic carcinomas could be the result of activation of Raf-1 phosphatases or inactivation of kinases phosphorylating Raf-1. New forms of treatment based on EGFR overexpression do not seem to be suitable for the majority of colonic cancers.This work was supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg (Verbundforschungsprojekt: Aufklärung von Mechanismen der Tumorentstehung und Tumorabwehr).     

Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Interphotoreceptor Matrix: Vectorial Secretion and Regulation

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) play an essential role in both normal and pathological extracellular matrix degradation, and a TIMP has been associated with at least one type of retinal degeneration. We have studied expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 by zymography, immunocytochemistry, and immunoblotting in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from normal, aged and diseased retinas. MMPs and TIMPs were found in the rat RPE, interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM), and in media conditioned by human and rat RPE in culture. In other polarized cells, MMPs and TIMP-2 are secreted vectorially towards the basal lamina. In the RPE, however, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were secreted preferentially from the apical surface, the surface bordering the IPM. These findings provide new evidence that MMPs and TIMPs could play a role in the turnover of IPM components.Cell homogenates and conditioned media from RPE isolated from mutant Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats with inherited retinal dystrophy had similar amounts of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 as those from congenic control rats. The secretion of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 from RPE cell cultures isolated from young and aged human donors varied widely. However, with increasing cell passage number, secretion of MMPs and TIMPs from human RPE increased dramatically. Also, growing human RPE on bovine corneal endothelial cell-generated extracellular matrix instead of plastic reduced the secretion of both MMPs and TIMPs. These data suggest that the integrity of Bruch's membrane may serve to regulate RPE functions in MMP and TIMP secretion and that extracellular matrices contain signals that regulate MMP and TIMP synthesis and/or secretion by the RPE.     

胆囊癌组织中NDPK／nm23的表达及意义

作者用免疫组化ＡＢＣ法对４１例胆囊癌标本核苷二磷酸激酶（ＮＤＰＫ，下同）／ｎｍ２３表达进行了测定，结果发现：ｎｍ２３在恶性肿瘤中的表达率明显高于良性病变（Ｐ＜０．０５）。ＮＤＰＫ／ｎｍ２３表达与胆囊癌组织的分化、局部浸润及淋巴转移密切相关（Ｐ＜０．０１）。ＮＤＰＫ／ｎｍ２３阳性患者生存中位数１２．２５个月，阴性患者６．５个月，两者存在显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１），提示ｎｍ２３检测对预后有重要价值。     

补肾中药对肾虚骨质疏松症大鼠红细胞膜PKC、 Ca2+-Mg2+- ATP酶活性影响的实验研究

本实验研究切除卵巢造成肾虚骨质疏松症大鼠模型。通过观测红细胞膜蛋白激酶Ｃ（ＰＫＣ）和Ｃａ２＋－Ｍｇ２＿－ＡＴＰ酶的活性，探讨肾虎骨质疏松症病理机制中肌醇脂质系统的变化，并结合全身和脊柱骨密度（ＢＭＤ）指标观察了补肾中药（密骨灵）的疗效，与正常对照组、模型空白组和阳性药（骨疏康颗粒剂）对照组进行对照，探讨补肾法的防治机理。结果表明；模型空白组大鼠红细胞膜ＰＫＣ和Ｃａ２＋－Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶、Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶的活性明显低于正常组（ｐ均＜０．０５）；密骨灵组与骨疏康组大鼠全身、脊柱ＢＭＤ和红细胞膜ＰＫＣ、Ｃａ２＋－Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶的活性均明显高于模型空白组（ｐ均＜０．０５），并且与正常组大鼠无明显差别（ｐ均＞０．０５）；密骨灵组大鼠红细胞膜Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性高于模型空白组和骨疏康组（ｐ＜０．０５），并且与正常组无显著性差异（ｐ＞０．０５）；密骨灵组大鼠红细胞膜ＰＫＣ活性高于骨疏康组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论：肾虎骨质疏松症具有红细胞膜ＰＫＣ和Ｃａ２＋－Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶、Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性的改变；密骨灵可以恢复肾虎骨质疏松症大鼠全身骨量，达到防治目的；补肾中药可以恢复红细胞膜ＰＫＣ活性和钙镁泵的活性，是补     

RELAXATION OF MESENTERIC ARTERY OF STROKE PRONE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS BY CALCIUM REMOVAL

1. The time courses of the relaxation, induced by removal of extracellular Ca2+, of K-depolarized mesenteric artery preparations from stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were compared. 2. The time course of the decline in extracellular Ca2+ was estimated from the time course of the relaxation and the concentration-response curve of K(+)-depolarized preparations to Ca2+. The time course of the decline in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration was also estimated from the reported relation between Ca2+ concentration and the contraction of skinned vascular smooth muscle. 3. The time course of relaxation was exponential, the curve being made up of three components. The time course was slower in preparations from SHRSP, especially the first component of the relaxation curve. 4. The time courses of the decline in the intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ concentrations were also exponential, being made up of three components and were also slower in the preparation made from SHRSP. 5. The wall and muscle layer of the mesenteric arteries used in the present experiments were significantly thicker in the SHRSP preparations. 6. Calculation of the half relaxation time, based on the diffusion of Ca2+ across the blood vessel wall, suggested that the slower relaxation in preparations from SHRSP is due largely to the thicker muscle layer, although differences in Ca2+ sequestration by the smooth muscle cells may also be involved.     

Lines of Murine Oligodendroglial Precursor Cells Immortalized by an Activated neu Tyrosine Kinase Show Distinct Degrees of Interaction with Axons In Vitro and In Vivo

Replication-defective retroviruses expressing the t- neu oncogene, or a hybrid protein with the neu tyrosine kinase linked to the external region of the human epidermal growth factor receptor ( egfr-neu ), were used to establish lines of murine oligodendroglial precursor cells. Differentiation of the t- neu lines into myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG)-positive oligodendrocytes was induced by dibutyryl cAMP, and the egfr-neu line showed limited differentiation in vitro upon withdrawal of epidermal growth factor. Cerebellar granule cell neurons expressed mitogens for the cell lines. Upon transplantation into demyelinated lesions, t- neu line cells engaged with the demyelinated axons whereas the egfr-neu line cells differentiated further and ensheathed the axons. These cell lines thus interact with neurons in vitro and in vivo and can be used as tools to define the molecules involved in different stages of neuron-glia interaction.     

Effects of immunosuppressors and cytostatics on the extracellular matrix production in experimental nephropathy

Methylprednisolone increased the content of laminine, cyclosporin increased the content of fibronectin, and cyclophosphamide suppressed the extracellular matrix production in experimental nephrotoxic nephritis and puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis. Therapy should be chosen with due consideration of the extracellular matrix structure in different morphological variants of chronic glomerulonephritis. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 11, pp. 584–587, November, 1998