Immunohistochemical detection of the lymphatic marker podoplanin in diverse types of human cancer cells using a novel antibody

The mucin-type transmembrane glycoprotein podoplanin (also known as T1alpha, gp38 or Aggrus) is well established as one of the lymphatic-specific markers. Podoplanin was also reported to be associated with tumor-induced platelet aggregation and tumor metastasis. Here, we generated a novel monoclonal antibody (clone; 7B10) that specifically recognized human podoplanin, as assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analyses, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. 7B10 stained not only lymphatic vessels but also type I alveolar cells in the lung, podocytes in the kidney and myoepithelial cells in the breast. In addition, podoplanin expression was analyzed by immunostaining on tissue microarrays that included 12 different cancer types using 7B10. Consequently, we found that podoplanin was expressed by cancer cells derived from esophagus, lung, liver, colon and breast, as well as lymphatic endothelial cells. These findings suggest a potential role of podoplanin in tumor progression in diverse types of human cancers.     

Aberrant increase in the immature platelet fraction in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome: a marker of karyotypic abnormalities associated with poor prognosis

Objectives: Some patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) show a marked increase in the percentage of immature platelet fraction (IPF%) despite the absence of severe thrombocytopenia. To determine the significance of such an unbalanced increase in the IPF%, we investigated the IPF% and other laboratory findings of 51 patients recently diagnosed with MDS. Method: Subjects consisted of 80 healthy males, 90 healthy females, and 51 patients with MDS and 20 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The IPF and IPF% were determined using a Sysmex XE‐2100 system loaded with IPF Master software (XE IPF Master, Sysmex). Platelet counts were measured simultaneously. Results: IPF% and platelet counts of these patients ranged from 1.1% to 25.1% (median, 5.3%) and from 6 to 260 × 10⁹/L (median, 71 × 10⁹/L), respectively. Twelve patients showed platelet counts more than 50 × 10⁹/L with 10% or more IPF%. All of the 12 patients had chromosome abnormalities including monosomy 7 and complex abnormalities involving 7 or 5q. In the other 39 patients who did not show the aberrant IPF% increase, chromosomal abnormalities were seen only in seven patients and none of them had chromosome 7 abnormalities. The IPF% of two patients increased to more than 10% in association with the appearance of monosomy 7. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a high IPF% in MDS patient may be a marker for karyotypic abnormalities with a poor prognosis, including chromosome 7 abnormalities.     

Gender differences in psychiatric symptoms related to suicidal ideation in Japanese patients with depression

Recent figures show that more than 30,000 people suicide each year in Japan, and that many of them are considered to suffer from depression. In addition, the suicide rate among Japanese women has been shown to be higher than in other countries. However, it is not clear whether the psychiatric symptoms leading to suicide differ by gender. The authors examined gender differences in psychiatric symptoms related to suicidal ideation (SI) in Japanese patients with depression. Study subjects were 199 new patients (66 men and 133 women) who were diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. SI and psychiatric symptoms were assessed by several psychological tests using questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with an adjustment for all relevant factors simultaneously. The stepwise method was also used for selecting variables. In univariate analysis, several psychosocial factors such as self-reproach, derealization, depressive moods, depersonalization, and anxiety traits were statistically significantly associated with SI in both men and women. However, multivariate analysis using the stepwise method distinguished gender differences. Low social/family support and depersonalization were statistically significantly associated with SI in men, while depressive moods and an anxiety state were significantly associated with SI in women. The relation between derealization and SI was statistically significant in women but not significant in men.     

Case of subepidermal autoimmune bullous disease with psoriasis vulgaris reacting to both BP180 C‐terminal domain and laminin gamma‐1

A number of cases of psoriasis vulgaris developing bullous skin lesions have been diagnosed as either bullous pemphigoid with antibodies to the 180‐kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen (BP180) non‐collagenous 16a (NC16a) domain or anti‐laminin‐γ1 (p200) pemphigoid. We report a case of subepidermal bullous disease with psoriasis vulgaris, showing antibodies to both BP180 C‐terminal domain and laminin‐γ1. A 64‐year‐old Japanese man with psoriasis vulgaris developed exudative erythemas and tense bullae on the whole body but he did not have mucosal involvement. The blistering lesion showed subepidermal blisters histopathologically. In indirect immunofluorescence of 1 mol/L NaCl‐split skin, immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies reacted with both the epidermal and dermal side. Immunoblotting showed positive IgG with recombinant protein of BP180 C‐terminal domain and 200‐kDa laminin‐γ1 in normal human dermal extract.     

Gender differences in the liver micronucleus test in rats with partial hepatectomy

The liver micronucleus test in rats with partial hepatectomy is a useful method to detect pro-clastogens such as diethylnitrosamine, the active metabolites of which do not reach the bone marrow due to their short lifespan. We have already reported that structural or numerical chromosome aberration inducers should be given before or after partial hepatectomy, respectively, to detect genotoxicity in the liver of rats. In the present study, we found that the percentage of binucleated cells in the liver from naive male rats is approximately 60% of that in female rats, which suggests a gender difference in the response to chromosome aberration inducers. Therefore, we investigated the responses to structural chromosome aberration inducers (diethylnitrosamine and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine) and numerical chromosome aberration inducers (colchicine and carbendazim) in male and female rats. The chemicals were given to 8-week-old male and female F344 rats a day before or after partial hepatectomy and hepatocytes were isolated 4 days after the partial hepatectomy. As the results, diethylnitrosamine and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine produced a significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated hepatocytes in both genders and the responses were comparable. In the case of colchicine and carbendazim, higher frequencies in the micronucleated hepatocytes were obtained in males than in females. Taken together, the response to chromosome aberration inducers in male rats was equal to or stronger than that in female rats. It seems that the use of only male rats in the liver micronucleus test is sufficient, unless existing data indicate a toxicologically meaningful gender difference in rats.     

CD20-negative low-grade B cell lymphoma showing immunophenotypic and genotypic features resembling plasma cell myeloma

Here we demonstrate a unique case of CD20-negative low-grade B cell lymphoma showing immunophenotypic and genotypic features resembling multiple myeloma.