IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptors (sIL-6R and sgp130) in human pleural effusions: massive IL-6 production independently of underlying diseases

IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and soluble gp130 (sgp130) levels were measured in sera and pleural effusions from 42 patients with metastatic carcinoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, tuberculosis, cardiac failure and miscellaneous diseases. Pleural IL-6 levels measured by ELISA were very high in all patient groups (mean 34.8 ± 15.3 ng/ml) without significant difference according to diseases. IL-6 was shown to be biologically active in a proliferative assay. Serum IL-6 levels were low (0.049 ± 0.014 ng/ml) and did not correlate with pleural fluid levels. Pleural IL-6 levels correlated with the number of polymorphonuclear cells in pleural fluid (P< 0.03). Pleural sIL-6R levels (76 ± 8 ng/ml) were always lower than serum levels (196 ± 12 ng/ml; P< 0.0001) but correlated with them (P< 0.01). Pleural sIL-6R and albumin levels correlated (P< 0.01), suggesting a transudation of sIL-6R from the serum. Pleural sgp130 levels (10.9 ± 1.0 ng/ml) were lower than serum levels (24.6 ± 2.8 ng/ml; P< 0.002). After gel filtration of pleural fluid, the bulk of IL-6 (>90%) was recovered in a 15 000–30 000 fraction, corresponding to the expected mol. wt of free IL-6. These results suggest a production and a sequestration of IL-6 in the pleural cavity in all studied conditions.     

Survivin、Bcl-2和Bax蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及其意义

目的：检测乳腺癌中 Survivin、Bc(?)-2和 Bax 蛋白的表达,探讨它们的相关性及临床意义。方法：用免疫组化和图像分析技术对乳腺癌中3种蛋白的表达进行定性、定位和定量研究。结果：(1)Survivin 在乳腺癌中表达, 并与临床分期有关;在正常乳腺组织中不表达,两者比较有显著性差异;(2)Bc(?)-2在乳腺癌中表达高于正常乳腺组织。Bc(?)-2与乳腺癌病理分级、临床分期有关;(3)Bax 在乳腺癌中表达低于正常乳腺组织。Bax 与乳腺癌病理分级、临床分期及腋淋巴结转移有关;(4)乳腺癌中 Survivin 的表达与 Bc(?)-2表达正相关,与 Bax 表达无关。结论：3种蛋白可通过抑制或促进细胞凋亡,对乳腺癌发生和发展起重要作用;在乳腺癌发展中 Survivin 与 Bc(?)-2 起协同作用。     

Abnormal expression of bcl-2 and bax in rat tongue mucosa during the development of squamous cell carcinoma induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide

4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO)-induced rat tongue carcinogenesis is a useful model for studying oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of bcl-2 and bax during tongue carcinogenesis induced by 4NQO. Male Wistar rats were distributed into three groups of 10 animals each and treated with 50 ppm 4NQO solution through their drinking water for 4, 12 or 20 weeks. Ten animals were used as negative control. Although no histological changes were induced in the epithelium after 4 weeks of carcinogen exposure, bcl-2 and bax were over-expressed (P < 0.01) in all layers of the 'normal' epithelium. The expression levels were the same in all layers of epithelium for both the antibodies used (bcl-2 or bax). In dysplastic lesions at 12 weeks following carcinogen administration, the levels of bcl-2 and bax expression did not increase when compared to negative control with the immunoreactivity for bcl-2 being restricted to the superficial layer of epithelium. In well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma induced after 20 weeks of treatment with 4NQO, bcl-2 was expressed in some cells of tumour islands. On the other hand, immunostaining for bax was widely observed at the tumour nests. The labelling index for bcl-2 and bax showed an increase (P < 0.05) after only 4 weeks of 4NQO administration. In conclusion, our results suggest that abnormalities in the apoptosis pathways are associated with the development of persistent clones of mutated-epithelial cells in the oral mucosa. Bcl-2 and bax expression appears to be associated with a risk factor in the progression of oral cancer.     

凋亡调节蛋白Bcl-2、p53和Caspase-3在乳腺癌组织中的表达及其相互关系

目的通过观察人乳腺癌组织中凋亡调节蛋白p53、bcl-2和caspase-3表达,探讨bcl-2、p53和caspase-3在乳腺癌发生、发展过程中的作用及其相互关系,为乳腺癌的生物治疗提供实验依据。方法收集手术切除的人乳腺癌组织和癌旁相对正常乳腺组织,用免疫组织化学方法和图像分析技术对21例乳腺癌标本进行检测。结果乳腺癌组织中bcl-2蛋白阳性表达率(52.4%,11/21)明显高于相对正常乳腺组织(19.0%,4/21);乳腺癌组织中p53蛋白阳性表达率(57.1%,12/21)也明显高于相对正常乳腺组织(0%);而乳腺癌组织中caspase-3蛋白阳性表达率(38.0%,8/21)明显低于相对正常乳腺组织(76.1%,16/21)。结论p53、bcl-2和caspase-3蛋白在乳腺癌发生、发展过程中发挥着既独立又协同的作用。     

Expression of steroid hormone receptors, their regulated proteins, and bcl-2 protein in myofibroblastoma of the breast

AIMS: To investigate the possible role of steroid hormones in the pathogenesis of myofibroblastoma (MFB) of the breast, we analysed the immunohistochemical expression of oestrogen, progesterone, androgen receptors, their regulated proteins and bcl-2 protein in a series of this rare tumour. METHODS AND RESULTS: Paraffin-embedded sections from seven cases of MFB of the breast (five male; two female) were immunohistochemically tested for the expression of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), oestrogen-regulated pS2 protein, androgen-regulated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and bcl-2 protein. Rare cases of benign spindle cell tumours or tumour-like lesions of the breast (primitive fibromatosis, inflammatory pseudotumour, muscular hamartoma) which enter into the differential diagnosis with MFB, were also investigated and compared with MFB. All cases of MFB showed a diffuse (70-90% of neoplastic cells) and strong nuclear labelling with ER and PR, whereas AR was expressed only in three cases (two men and one woman) in about 60-70% of cells. Conversely, no immunostaining was detected for the pS2 protein and PSA. bcl-2 protein immunoreactivity was found in all cases of MFB, although with a variable degree of expression. No expression for steroid hormone receptors, their regulated-proteins and bcl-2 protein was observed in the rare benign spindle cell lesions of the breast included in this study. CONCLUSION: The in-situ detection of ER, PR and AR suggests that steroid hormones and their receptors are implicated in the pathogenesis of breast MFB. The consistent demonstration of bcl-2 protein, associated with a positive ER/PR status, provides evidence that bcl-2 may be an oestrogen-regulated protein also in MFB and that probably plays a role in the tumorigenesis. Finally, we postulate that the ER/PR and bcl-2 positive immunoprofile of MFB of the breast, in contrast to the negative profile of other rare primitive benign spindle cell lesions of the breast herein studied, might be exploited as an ancillary diagnostic aid in differential diagnosis of doubtful cases.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of the IL-6 family of cytokines and their receptors in benign, hyperplasic, and malignant human prostate

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its receptor have been implicated in prostate cancer progression. Because other members of the IL-6 family such as leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and oncostatin M (OSM) share gp130, the signal transduction subunit of their receptors, interpretation of the data without considering the expression of these cytokines and their specific receptor subunits could be misleading. The immunohistochemical pattern of the IL-6 family and their receptor subunits in normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostatic carcinoma (PC) was investigated. In normal prostates, gp130 and OSMRalpha were detected exclusively in the stroma and LIFRbeta was very scarce. While IL-6 was scarcely immunolocalized to the basal cells of the epithelium, OSM was detected in the stroma and LIF in both the epithelium and the stroma. This suggests an autocrine role for this family of cytokines in the stroma of normal prostates. In BPH, gp130 and OSMRalpha were detected both in the epithelium and in the stroma, whereas LIFRbeta was localized only to the epithelium. IL-6 localized preferentially to the epithelium, OSM to the stroma, and LIF to both compartments. Therefore, in addition to the autocrine role in the stroma, IL-6 and OSM may play a paracrine role from the stroma to the epithelium in BPH. In PC, gp130 and OSMRalpha were detected both in the epithelium and in the stroma, increasing with rising Gleason grade, whereas LIFRbeta was localized exclusively to the epithelium of low Gleason grade carcinomas. IL-6, LIF, and OSM localized in all cell types, with immunostaining increasing with Gleason grade. These data suggest an autocrine role for these cytokines in the epithelial cells of PC. The distinct pattern of expression of LIFRbeta exclusively in low Gleason grade carcinomas makes LIFRbeta a candidate for malignancy diagnosis. The role of OSM mainly in high Gleason grade carcinomas makes OSM a putative target for prostate cancer therapy.     

大肠腺瘤及癌中细胞凋亡和bcl—2,bax基因的表达

探讨细胞凋亡及其调控基因ｂｃｌ－２和ｂａｘ与大肠癌发生发展之间的关系。方法：采用Ｆｅｕｌｇｅｎ染色，ＴｄＴ酶介导的生物素化ｄＵＴＰ缺口末端标记技术和免疫组织Ｓ－Ｐ法，分别检测大肠正常粘膜、腺瘤、癌及癌旁非腺瘤性不典型增生中细胞凋亡率和ｂｃｌ－２、ｂａｘ基因的表达。     

IL-6 and related cytokines as the critical lynchpins between inflammation and cancer

Inflammatory responses play pivotal roles in cancer development, including tumor initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis. Cytokines are now recognized as important mediators linking inflammation and cancer, and are therefore potential therapeutic and preventive targets as well as prognostic factors. The interleukin (IL)-6 family of cytokines, especially IL-6 and IL-11, is highly up-regulated in many cancers and considered as one of the most important cytokine families during tumorigenesis and metastasis. This review discusses molecular mechanisms linking the IL-6 cytokine family to solid malignancies and their treatment.     

bcl—2／bax对不同乳腺癌细胞凋亡的调节作用

目的：了解bcl-2/bax在乳腺癌细胞的p53依赖性凋亡和p53非依赖性凋亡中的作用。方法：用原位杂交的方法检测化疗药物VM-26诱导入乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7和MDA-MB-435S凋亡前后bcl-2和bax的mRNA表达情况。结果：与MDA-MB-435S细胞相比,MCF-7细胞的bcl-2 mRNA水平较高。两株细胞均能在VM-26的作用下发生凋亡。药物诱导后,MCF-7细胞的bcl-2 mRNA表达下降,bax mRNA表达增加;MDA-MB-435S细胞bax mRNA表达增加,bcl-2、mRNA无明显变化。结论：wt p53可在转录水平调节bcl-2/bax的表达,从而介导凋亡作用;bax在p53非依赖性凋亡中也发挥一定作用;bcl-2的高表达可能与肿瘤耐药性有关。     

人肺癌细胞凋亡与p53、bcl-2、Bax的表达

目的：探讨人肺癌组织细胞自发凋亡的发生,ｐ５３基因及凋亡相关基因ｂｃｌ－２、Ｂａｘ在肺癌组织中的表达及与肺癌细胞凋亡和生物学行为的关系。方法：用甲基绿－派诺宁染色检测５０例肺癌组织切片中凋亡细胞,ＬＳＡＢ免疫组化法检测ｐ５３和Ｂａｘ的蛋白表达,原位杂交方法检测ｂｃｌ－２ ｍＲＮＡ的表达。结果：１００％小细胞肺癌凋亡发生数１０个／ＨＰＦ,２１％的肺鳞癌和１５％的肺腺癌凋亡发生数〉１０个／ＨＰＦ。ｐ５     

IL-6 in malignant pleural effusions and its augmentation by intrapleural instillation of IL-2.

The levels and activities of endogenous IL-6 in malignant pleural effusions due to lung cancer before and during daily intrapleural instillations of recombinant IL-2 were examined by enzyme immunoassay and bioassay using an IL-6-dependent murine hybridoma cell line MH60.BSF2. Before therapy, malignant pleural effusions contained various levels of IL-6. Daily intrapleural instillation of recombinant IL-2 for treatment of malignant pleurisy resulted in significant augmentation of the levels and activities of IL-6 in the pleural effusions. On fractionation of the pleural effusion by chromatography, one major peak of material with a mol. wt of 24 kD showed IL-6 activity. In contrast, no significant level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha or IL-1 beta was detectable in pleural effusions before or during local IL-2 therapy. These data suggest that IL-2 is an important regulatory factor of secondary IL-6 production.     

Apoptosis suppressing protein bcl-2 is expressed in well-differentiated breast carcinomas with favourable prognosis

The expression of bcl-2 protein was analysed immunohistochemically in 202 female breast carcinomas. The intensity of bcl-2 expression was inversely related to tumour grade (P<0·0001), tumor necrosis (P<0·0001), mitotic index (P<0·0001), oestrogen receptor content (P<0·0001), progesterone receptor content (P=0·0007), S-phase fraction (P=0·00047), and apoptotic index (P=0·087). A high fraction of bcl-2-positive cells was related to ductal or lobular type (P=0·03) and slight nuclear pleomorphism (P=0·03). Heterogeneous expression of bcl-2 protein was associated with high grade (P=0·02), severe nuclear pleomorphism (P=0·02), DNA aneuploidy (P=0·018), high S-phase fraction (P=0·05), and early metastasis (P=0·03). Intense expression of bcl-2 protein was significantly related to favourable outcome in the entire cohort (P=0·0013), as well as in axillary lymph node-negative (ANN) tumours (P=0·0124). Long recurrence-free periods in the entire cohort (P=0·037) and in ANN tumours (P=0·08) were confined to cases with intense expression of bcl-2 protein. In multivariate analysis, bcl-2 expression had no independent prognostic value in the entire cohort or in axillary lymph node-negative breast carcinomas, whereas it was a weak independent prognostic factor in axillary lymph node-positive breast carcinomas.     

SHP2 is up-regulated in breast cancer cells and in infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, implying its involvement in breast oncogenesis

Aims: To determine whether Src homology phosphotyrosyl phosphatase 2 (SHP2) is up‐regulated in breast cancer and, if so, to determine whether its up‐regulation has any relationship with clinical variables of breast cancer. Methods and results: Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to assess the state of SHP2 expression in breast cancer cells and in infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast. The possible role of SHP2 in breast cancer cell transformation was determined by dominant‐negative expression and anchorage‐independent growth assays. All of the breast cancer cell lines tested and 72% of IDC breast tumours analysed had increased amounts of the SHP2 protein. In support of its positive role, dominant‐negative SHP2 blocked anchorage‐independent growth of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, overexpression of SHP2 seemed to have a positive relationship to HER2 overexpression, nuclear accumulation of hormone receptors, higher tumour grade and lymph node metastasis, but not to age of breast cancer patients. Conclusion: SHP2 is a widely overexpressed signalling protein in IDC breast tumours. Given SHP2’s positive role in cell growth, transformation and stem cell survival, the positive relationship of its overexpression to lymph node metastasis, nuclear accumulation of hormone receptors and higher tumour grade suggests that SHP2 promotes breast oncogenesis.     

不同胎龄的胎儿和少儿皮肤中bax,bcl-2和p53基因表达的变化

目的：探讨凋亡相关基因bax, bcl-2和p53在不同胎龄的胎儿皮肤和少儿皮肤组织中表达的变化特征及其可能的生物学意义。方法： 运用末端脱氧核糖转移酶介导的生物素化脱氧尿嘧啶缺口标记技术(TUNEL)检测18例不同胎龄(13-32周)的胎儿皮肤和6例少儿皮肤组织中细胞凋亡的变化后，提取这些皮肤组织中的总RNA，分离mRNA，用RT-PCR方法检测bax, bcl-2和p53基因在不同组织中的表达变化特征。结果： 随着胎儿的生长发育，皮肤组织中的细胞凋亡率逐渐增加。在早期妊娠胎儿的皮肤中，bcl-2基因表达水平较高，随着胎龄的增加，bcl-2基因的转录本含量逐渐降低，在少儿的皮肤组织中，这种基因的表达量明显低于早期妊娠胎儿皮肤（P<0.01）。与bcl-2基因不同，在早期妊娠胎儿皮肤组织中，p53基因表达水平较低，而在晚期妊娠胎儿和少儿的皮肤内，该基因表达较强，而bax基因在不同发育时期的胎儿和少儿皮肤组织中表达差异不显著（P>0.05）。结论： 晚期妊娠胎儿和少儿皮肤组织中细胞增殖减缓，细胞趋向分化或凋亡的增加可能与p53基因表达增强，bcl-2表达降低相关；而p53表达降低，bcl-2表达升高可能是早期妊娠胎儿皮肤中细胞凋亡较少的机制之一。     

烫伤大鼠小肠肌间神经丛bax/bcl-2表达的变化及银杏叶提取物的保护作用

目的：观察烫伤大鼠小肠肌间神经丛Bax／Bcl-2蛋白的表达特征,了解银杏叶提取物(EGb)干预的作用机制。方法：动物分烫伤组和治疗组,各组于不同时间点处死、取材,制成肠肌间神经丛铺片。采用免疫组织化学方法,进行Bax／Bcl-2检测。结果：Pax／Bcl-2的表达是以烫伤后24h阳性最强,以后随着时间延长而逐渐下降;治疗组较对应时间点的烫伤组Bax阳性信号明显减弱,Bcl-2阳性信号明显增强。结果：细胞凋亡是大鼠严重烫伤后小肠肌间神经丛神经元丢失的重要原因,而Bax／Bcl-2是参与神经细胞凋亡的重要凋亡调控基因。并推测EGb具有显著的保护作用,其机制可能与影响Bax／Bcl-2基因表达,而起到保护烫伤后迟发性神经细胞死亡的作用有关。     

HDAg和bcl—2、bax在丁型肝炎病人肝组织中的表达及相关性

目的探讨 bcl- 2、bax在丁型肝炎发病机理中的作用。方法采用免疫组化双标记染色和连续切片技术 ,检测 77例丁型肝炎病人肝组织 HDAg、bcl- 2和 bax表达 ,以 6 7例乙型肝炎作对照。结果 HDAg以肝细胞核表达为主 ,bcl- 2以肝细胞浆及核膜表达为主 ,bax以肝细胞浆表达为主 ,胞核也可呈阳性表达。bax和 HDAg表达及分布有相关性 ,在各临床类型肝炎中的表达强度有显著性差异 (P<0 .0 1)。结论 HDV感染可诱导肝细胞表达 bax,增强 bax促细胞凋亡作用 ,bcl- 2 / bax途径介导的细胞凋亡在丁型肝炎发病机理中可能有一定作用     

铁缺乏孕妇外周血单个核细胞IL-2、IL-6分泌水平研究

目的探讨铁缺乏及不同补铁浓度对孕妇外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）IL-2、IL-6分泌水平的影响,为临床补铁提供理论依据。方法孕妇血肝素抗凝,分离PBMC。给予LPS或PHA刺激后,用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测不同铁浓度环境下健康及铁缺乏孕妇PBMC的IL-2、IL-6分泌水平。结果体外试验表明：给予LPS或PHA刺激后,铁缺乏患者PBMC的IL-2分泌水平低于健康孕妇平均水平,IL-6高于健康孕妇平均水平;不同补铁浓度对IL-2分泌水平无影响,但IL-6分泌水平有所提高。结论孕期应该注重含铁食物的摄入,平衡膳食,预防因铁营养缺乏而导致的免疫功能下降;铁缺乏孕妇适量补铁有利于提高IL-6的分泌水平,促进机体造血功能的改善与恢复。     

乳腺癌bcl-2甲基化的检测及与表达、预后的关系

目的：建立bcl-2基因甲基化特异的PCR（MSP）检测方法，并探讨乳腺癌bcl-2甲基化与蛋白表达、预后因素（肿瘤大小，淋巴结转移，增殖细胞核抗原PCNA，雌、孕激素受体ER、PR情况）的关系。 方法： 设计bcl-2基因MSP引物，采用MSP方法检测54例乳腺癌bcl-2基因5’端启动子CpG岛甲基化状态。采用免疫组化S-P法检测54例乳腺癌bcl-2、PCNA、ER、PR的表达。 结果： 乳腺癌bcl-2甲基化率为29.6%。Bcl-2甲基化与其蛋白表达之间呈显著负相关（P＜0.01）。Bcl-2甲基化率高与不良的预后因素（PCNA标记指数LI高、ER-和PR-）显著相关（P＜0.01）。 结论： 该研究建立bcl-2基因MSP检测方法，MSP扩增和测序结果证实，bcl-2基因MSP引物设计是合理的。bcl-2甲基化有可能成为乳腺癌预后不良的分子检测指标。     

卵巢癌细胞IL-6、IL-8及其受体表达的研究

目的分析比较五种常见的上皮性卵巢癌细胞系IL-6、IL-8及其受体表达的差异。方法IL-6、IL-8的表达分别采用RT-PCR和ELISA法进行检测,IL-6受体（IL-6Rα和gp130）及IL-8受体（IL-8RA和IL-8RB）的表达采用免疫印迹技术进行测定。结果①五种上皮性卵巢癌细胞均组成性表达IL-6和IL-8。IL-6和IL-8在CAOV-3细胞中的表达水平均最高,而在HO-8910PM细胞中的表达水平均最低,IL-6在SKOV-3、HO-8910、OVCAR-3细胞中的表达水平依次降低,IL-8在OVCAR-3、SKOV-3、HO-8910细胞中的表达水平依次降低。②五种上皮性卵巢癌细胞均表达IL-6Rα、gp130及IL-8RA;除CAOV-3细胞外,其它细胞均表达IL-8RB。结论本研究旨在筛选表达IL-6和IL-8及其相应受体的细胞株,为研究IL-6、IL-8与卵巢癌发生、发展关系奠定基础,同时也为今后卵巢癌的免疫治疗提供一个新的思路。