Clear cell basal cell carcinoma

We describe a case of clear cell basal cell carcinoma of the superficial type, presenting as a crusted eruption on the abdomen. Histological examination showed a solid proliferation of clear cells attached to the under-surface of an atrophied epidermis. In addition, distinct pagetoid infiltration was seen within the overlying epidermis. A focal connection between the clear cell portion and a deeper lying nodular basal cell carcinoma was demonstrated, elucidating the true nature of the lesion. Immunohistochemical studies and electronmicroscopy confirmed the epithelial derivation of the tumour. The clear cell appearance was due to multiple cytoplasmic electronlucent vacuoles which were not surrounded by membranes.     

Harnessing innate and adaptive immunity for adoptive cell therapy of renal cell carcinoma

The development of immunotherapies for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been the subject of research for several decades. In addition to cytokine therapy, the benefit of various adoptive cell therapies has again come into focus in the past several years. Nevertheless, success in fighting this immunogenic tumor is still disappointing. RCC can attract a multitude of different effector cells of both the innate and adaptive immune system, including natural killer (NK) cells, γδ T cells, NK-like T cells, peptide-specific T cells, dendritic cells (DC), and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Based on intensive research on the biology and function of different immune cells, we now understand that individual cell types do not act in isolation but function within a complex network of intercellular interactions. These interactions play a pivotal role in the efficient activation and function of effector cells, which is a prerequisite for successful tumor elimination. This review provides a current overview of the diversity of effector cells having the capacity to recognize RCC. Aspects of the functions and anti-tumor properties that make them attractive candidates for adoptive cell therapies, as well as experience in clinical application are discussed. Improved knowledge of the biology of this immune network may help us to effectively harness various effector cells, placing us in a better position to develop new therapeutic strategies to successfully fight RCC.     

Cell heterogeneity in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

The aim of this study was to define the histological spectrum, frequency and significance of nonconventional tumour cells in clear cell renal cell carcinomas (CCRCC). Fifty‐one totally sampled CCRCC were studied histologically to evaluate the spectrum of cell morphology variability, its frequency and significance, and their correlation with tumour grade and stage, and other histological parameters of aggressive behaviour like necrosis. Aside from conventional clear/eosinophilic granular cells, three additional cellular types were identified and considered in this study: small clear cells, syncytial cells and rhabdoid cells. Small clear cells were detected in 11 cases (21.5%), syncytial cells in 8 (15.6%) and rhabdoid cells in 5 (9.8%). The presence of syncytial and rhabdoid cells statistically correlated with grade (p = 0.003 and p = 0.006) and stage (p = 0.049 and p = 0.05) in CCRCC. Necrosis correlated with stage (p = 0.018) and grade (p = 0.004), but not with syncytial, rhabdoid or small clear cells. The presence of syncytial and rhabdoid cells in CCRCC is a relatively frequent event that significantly correlates with high‐grade tumours and high stage status.     

树突状细胞对调节性T细胞的调控作用

树突状细胞(DCs)是目前已知的体内功能最强大的专职性抗原提呈细胞,具有启动免疫应答和诱导免疫耐受的双重特性.近年来树突状细胞对调节性T细胞的调控作用是免疫学领域的一个研究热点.Foxp3+ Tregs是一群同时具有免疫低反应性和免疫抑制性功能两大特征的T淋巴细胞,它在维持机体内环境稳定、预防自身免疫性疾病、抑制移植排斥反应等病理生理过程中发挥着重要作用.越来越多的研究结果证实DCs和Tregs二者在维持外周免疫耐受中存在着紧密联系,DCs可以诱导抗原特异性Tregs的生成并增加后者的抑制活性,其中参与该调节机制的分子主要包括相关细胞因子、Toll样受体、共刺激分子及维甲酸等.对DCs在接触共生和致病微生物时诱导和调控Tregs细胞有了一些新发现.     

间质干细胞、肿瘤干细胞和肿瘤

近来研究认为肿瘤来源于干细胞,提出了肿瘤中存在极少量肿瘤干细胞(CSC)的新学说.问质干细胞(MSC)作为间质细胞的来源,与肿瘤的关系尤为密切.本文就间质干细胞,肿瘤干细胞和肿瘤的发生,发展作一综述.     

Granular cell basal cell carcinoma. Light microscopy,immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Summary Granular cell basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a rare histological variant of BCC. In this, the fifth reported case, a 67-year-old male with BCC located on the nose, light microscopy examination showed a tumour with the classical configuration of nodular BCC, in which most cells had finely granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. Ultrastructural observation showed numerous lysosome-like granules filling the cytoplasm of tumour cells, along with numerous well-formed pentalaminate desmosomes. Immunohistochemical profile (including positivity for keratins C 5.2 and AE 1 and for Leu-M1), together with the presence of cytoplasmic tonofilament bundles and desmosomes, are consistent with the proposed epithelial origin of granular cells in this tumour.     

卵清白蛋白特异性T细胞免疫诱导BALB/c小鼠的调节性免疫应答

目的：研究T细胞免疫后正常小鼠的调节性免疫应答，方法：应用体外扩增的卵清白蛋白（OVA）特异的T细胞克隆免疫BALB／c小鼠，3H－TdR掺入法分析细胞增殖，3H－TdR标记靶细胞检测杀伤T细胞的杀伤效应，间接免疫荧光法分析血清中抗T细胞抗体水平。结果：T细胞免疫后能诱导BALB/c小鼠产生调节性T细胞的增殖反应，对靶细胞的杀伤效应以及针对于活化的T细胞的体液免疫应答，并进一步降低机体对OVA抗原的应答，结论：T细胞免疫能诱导正常机体的调节性免疫应答。     

A novel co-stimulatory T cell antigen co-expressed on renal cell carcinoma

The A6H mAb raised primarily against human renal cell carcinoma(RCC) has previously been shown to bind strongly to RCC, tosome degree to colon carcinoma but only marginally to a varietyof normal tissues. Immunohlstochemical analysis of RCC tissuescontaining tumor-Infiltrating lymphocytes revealed that A6Hstained both tumor cells and lymphocytes. FACS analysis of humanperipheral blood cells demonstrated that A6H mAb stained 85-90%of both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, but not granulocytes, monocytes,NK cells or B cells. Furthermore, 85-90% of naive and memoryT helper cells were stained with A6H suggesting that the A6HmAb defines unique subsets within these T cell populations.Dual staining showed that A6H mAb bind to an antigen that isclearly distinct from other cell surface molecules on T cells,including CD28, CD29, CD26, CD44 and ICAM-2. A6H mAb bindinginduced a second signal in anti-CD3 mAb activated T cells, resultingIn cell proliferation, IL-2 receptor expression and vigorousproduction of IFN_- and TNF, and production of minor amountsof IL-2. Immunoprecipitatlon with A6H mAb indicated a molecularweight of 120-140 kDa on both T cells and RCC. We suggest thatthe A6H mAb defines a unique T cell surface antigen which isinvolved in signal transduction and is expressed on subsetsof human T cells. The co-expression of A6H on T cells and tumorcells suggests a possible function related to common propertiesof these cells.     

The behaviour of human oral squamous cell carcinoma in cell culture.

This study examined the initial behaviour of 48 human oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in cell culture. The early outcome of these cultures (contamination, absence of cell growth, epithelial cell senescence/fibroblast overgrowth, extended keratinocyte growth) did not reflect the clinical characteristics of the tumours of origin. Four new human oral SCC cell lines were characterized more extensively. Each cell line was immortal, 3T3-independent, and expressed low degrees of anchorage independence (CFE less than 4 per cent). Two of the four cell lines were tumorigenic in athymic mice. All of the cell lines expressed keratin intermediate filaments and two showed weak co-expression of vimentin. A wide range of keratins were expressed by the tumour xenografts; cornified keratins (K1, K10) were only expressed in the absence of K19 and vimentin, and vice versa. The nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio and the degree of serum independence correlated with each other and with the STNMP clinical grading of the tumours of origin.     

Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma: a review

The disease concept of clear cell (tubulo) papillary renal cell carcinoma (CCP-RCC) as a distinct subtype of renal cell carcinoma has been recently established. First described in the setting of end stage renal disease, this tumor type is more frequently recognized and encountered in a sporadic setting. In this article, we provide an overview of the recent understanding of this tumor. Macroscopically, tumors are well circumscribed with well-developed tumor capsule. Histologically, the tumor cells are cuboidal to low columnar cell with clear cytoplasm and papillary and tubulo-papillary configuration. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells generally show diffuse expression for cytokeratin 7, CA9 (cup-shaped pattern), HIF-1, GLUT-1 and high molecular weight cytokeratin, but negative for AMACR, RCC Ma and TFE3. CD10 is negative or focally positive in most tumors. Genetically, this tumor has no characteristics of clear cell RCC or papillary RCC. Prognostically, patients with CCP-RCC behave in an indolent fashion in all previously reported cases. In conclusion, although this tumor has been integrated into recent International Society of Urologic Pathology Classification of renal neoplasia, both aspects of disease concept and clinical behavior are yet to be fully elucidated. Further publications of large cohorts of patients will truly help understand the biologic potential and the molecular underpinnings of this tumor type.     

Chondrocytic cell differentiation in clear cell chondrosarcoma

Clear cell chondrosarcoma is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm of unclear differentiation. Besides having a chondrogenic nature, an osteogenic differentiation was also proposed. In this study, expression analysis of extracellular matrix genes, which are specific for different mesenchymal cell differentiation pathways, were used to get a better understanding of origin and differentiation pattern of the clear cell chondrosarcoma tumor cells. Our in situ analysis of two cases shows that (1) chondrocytic cell differentiation as marked by the expression of cartilage collagen type II and proteoglycans is a characteristic feature within the development of the neoplasm, (2) multifocal chondrocyte hypertrophy as shown by the expression of type X collagen does occur, and (3) no significant expression cf collagen type I, the main gene product of osteoblastic cells, is found by the neoplastic cells. Thus, our study indicates that clear cell chondrosarcoma shows a chondrogenic, but not osteogenic, differentiation and represents a true chondrosarcoma. The unusual scarcity of its extracellular and the multifocal expression of type X collagen marks clear cell chondrosarcoma as a chondrosarcoma tumor entity of a particular cell differentiation pattern. The expression of cartilage type collagens represents a distinct marker from bone metastases of clear cell neoplasms of other origins.     

Sarcomatoid conversion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma in relation to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Approximately 8% of clear cell renal cell carcinoma cases contain regions of radically different morphology, demonstrating a mesenchymal appearance histologically resembling sarcomas. These biphasic neoplasms are called sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Patients diagnosed with sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma face a considerably worse prognosis due to an increased propensity for metastasis. In the present study we investigate whether the sarcomatoid conversion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma could be interpreted as linked to the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Using 6 biphasic clear cell renal cell carcinoma cases we show that sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma shares characteristic markers associated with loss of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor with conventional clear cell renal cell carcinoma and also exhibits a markedly higher proliferative index. Furthermore the sarcomatoid elements demonstrate an enhanced expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition related mesenchymal markers as compared with the clear cell renal cell carcinoma counterparts. We further selected a representative case, clinically demonstrating direct overgrowth of the sarcomatoid component into the liver and colon, for extended immunohistochemical characterization, resulting in a further set of positive and negative epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers as well as pronounced transforming growth factor β positivity, indicating that sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma may be associated to epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Transforming growth factor β1 exposure of in vitro cultured primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells resulted in cells adopting a mesenchymal morphology similar to sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Corresponding changes in RNA levels for key epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers were also seen. We therefore suggest that sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma morphologically and immunohistochemically may represent a completed epithelial-mesenchymal transition and that transforming growth factor β1 could be an important driving force during the sarcomatoid transdifferentiation of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.     

上皮细胞及间质细胞表面分子在兔子宫内膜中的表达

目的探讨兔子宫内膜中上皮细胞及间质细胞表面分子的表达。方法应用流式细胞术检测上皮细胞表面标记分子EpCAM、EMA，及间质细胞表面标记分子CD90（Thy-1）和Collagen type I，lit—PCR分析上述表面分子的mRNA表达，同时对Sox2及Oct4的mRNA进行检测。结果在兔子宫内膜中，可以检测到EpCAM、EMA、CD90及CollagentypeI的mRNA及蛋白表达，同时可检测到Oct4及Sox2在兔子宫内膜中的表达。结论兔子宫内膜可能存在上皮细胞及间质细胞两种细胞成分，同时可能存在兔子宫内膜干细胞。     

Association of Merkel cell polyomavirus infection with morphologic differences in Merkel cell carcinoma

Recently, it has been shown that approximately 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas harbor a novel polyomavirus named Merkel cell polyomavirus, thought to be a carcinogenic agent. However, it is not fully elucidated whether Merkel cell carcinomas differ with regard to the presence or absence of Merkel cell polyomavirus. To address this, we investigated morphologic differences between Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive and -negative Merkel cell carcinomas by morphometry. Using polymerase chain reaction and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Merkel cell polyomavirus was detected in 20 (77%) of 26 Merkel cell carcinoma cases, including 4 Merkel cell carcinomas combined with squamous cell carcinomas. Interestingly, Merkel cell polyomavirus was detected only in ordinary (pure) Merkel cell carcinomas; none of the 4 combined Merkel cell carcinomas + squamous cell carcinomas was positive for Merkel cell polyomavirus (P = .001). Morphometric analyses revealed that Merkel cell polyomavirus-negative Merkel cell carcinomas had more irregular nuclei (P < .001) and more abundant cytoplasm (P = .001) than Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive Merkel cell carcinomas, which had uniform round nuclei and scant cytoplasm. Reliability of the morphometry was confirmed using intraobserver and interobserver reliability tests. These results demonstrated statistically significant differences in tumor cell morphology between Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive and -negative Merkel cell carcinomas and reconfirmed the absence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in combined tumors. Furthermore, the results strongly suggest fundamental biological differences between Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive and -negative Merkel cell carcinomas, supporting that Merkel cell polyomavirus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive Merkel cell carcinoma.     

A human gall-bladder signet ring cell carcinoma cell line

To date, very few reports of the establishment of gall-bladder cancer cell lines have appeared,^1–7 although many cancer cell lines of various kinds have been established. On the other hand, no reports could be found on signet ring cell carcinoma cell lines derived from the gall-bladder and only five cell lines from the stomach. A human gall-bladder cancer cell line (FU-GBC-2) was established In tissue culture from the ascitic fluid of a 69-year-old Japanese female patient. The tumor cells growing In tissue culture exhibited the morphological characteristics of signet ring cells In phase contrast and electron microscopy. The population doubling time was 43 hours. Heterotransplantation was succeeded by inoculation into me dermis of BALB/c nude mice. An Immunocytochemical study showed that most of the cultured cells were positive for carclnoembryonic antigen, CA19–9 and epithellal membrane antigen, but negative for vimentin. The modal chromosome number was 120 with a range of 100–124. Flow cytometry showed an aneuploidy pattern in the cultured cells at passage 30. Markedly amplified c -myc oncogene was observed by Southern blot analysis. This cell line may be useful In the study of the morphological and biological characteristics of signet ring cell carcinoma and gallbladder adenocarcinoma.     

T cell fate decisions during memory cell generation with aging

The defense against infectious diseases, either through natural immunity or after vaccinations, relies on the generation and maintenance of protective T cell memory. Naïve T cells are at the center of memory T cell generation during primary responses. Upon activation, they undergo a complex, highly regulated differentiation process towards different functional states. Naïve T cells maintained into older age have undergone epigenetic adaptations that influence their fate decisions during differentiation. We review age-sensitive, molecular pathways and gene regulatory networks that bias naïve T cell differentiation towards effector cell generation at the expense of memory and Tfh cells. As a result, T cell differentiation in older adults is associated with release of bioactive waste products into the microenvironment, higher stress sensitivity as well as skewing towards pro-inflammatory signatures and shorter life spans. These maladaptations not only contribute to poor vaccine responses in older adults but also fuel a more inflammatory state.