全自动免疫组化与手工染色标记胸腺瘤TdT表达的对比观察

目的:对比观察胸腺瘤TdT在全自动免疫组织化学染色技术(automatic immunohistochemical staining techniques,AIST)和手工染色方法（manual staining method,MSM）中表达的差异性。方法:收集2015年-2016年大坪医院胸腺瘤手术标本21例,经石蜡包埋、切片、染色,显微镜下观察胸腺瘤TdT在AIST和MSM表达的差异。AIST采用Ventana公司生产的BenchMark XT,二抗检测系统分别采用UltraView Universal DAB Detection kit (简称UV)和Optiview DAB IHC Detection kit (简称OV)。结果:手工染色TdT阳性表达定位准确,染色强度强,背景清晰;AIST中采用UV二抗检测系统TdT染色虽然阳性定位准确,但TdT染色强度偏弱,背景不清晰,两者比较具有显著性差异（P＜0.01）。优化染色方案后,改用OV二抗检测系统,TdT染色各项指标优于UV二抗检测系统,染色效果和手工相比,染色强度和阳性率一致。结论:任何抗体指标在行免疫组化前均需进行最适条件的摸索与优化,从而获得该抗体指标最佳的染色方案。     

荧光原位杂交（FISH）检测乳腺癌中HER-2基因状态与p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ表达的相关性

目的:研究乳腺癌中HER-2基因状态和p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ蛋白表达的相互关系,以及HER-2基因扩增与HER-2蛋白表达的相关性。方法:运用FISH和IHC技术分别检测172例浸润性乳腺癌中HER-2基因状态及HER-2、p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ蛋白表达情况,分析HER-2基因状态与其相互的关系。结果:172例浸润性乳腺癌中HER-2基因扩增与p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ蛋白表达呈正相关（P<0.05）,HER-2基因扩增阳性率为43.6%（75/172）,HER-2基因扩增与HER-2蛋白表达具有相关性（P<0.05）。结论:联合检测HER-2基因状态和p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ蛋白表达可为浸润性乳腺癌的预后及分子靶向治疗提供依据。     

Survey of Her2-neu Expression and its Correlation with Histology of Gastric Carcinoma and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma

Background: There is increasing evidence that HER2-neu is an important biomarker in gastric carcinomas (GC) and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate HER2-neu expression and also some clinicopathological features of these neoplasms. Materials and Methods: We selected 211 paraffin-embedded blocks, 193 GC and 18 GEJ. Then 4 micron sections were prepared for staining with hematoxylin and eosin and also for IHC (Her2-neu). The Chi-square test was used for significance between expression of HER2-neu and clinicopathological parameters. Results: In patients with advanced cancer of GC and GEJ, HER2-neu overexpression was more associated with the intestinal cancer subtype. Conclusions: This could be a guide to new complementary therapy for affected patients.     

Detection of DNA damage in oocytes of small ovarian follicles following phosphoramide mustard exposures of cultured rodent ovaries in vitro

Healthy oocytes are critical for producing healthy children, but little is known about whether or not oocytes have the capacity to identify and recover from injury. Using a model ovotoxic alkylating drug, cyclophosphamide (CPA), and its active metabolite, phosphoramide mustard (PM), we previously showed that PM (≥ 3 μM) caused significant follicle loss in postnatal day 4 (PND4) mouse ovaries in vitro. We now investigate whether PM induces DNA damage in oocytes, examining histone H2AX phosphorylation (γH2AX), a marker of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Exposure of cultured PND4 mouse ovaries to 3 and 0.1 μM PM induced significant losses of primordial and small primary follicles, respectively. PM-induced γH2AX was observed predominantly in oocytes, in which foci of γH2AX staining increased in a concentration-dependent manner and peaked 18-24 h after exposure to 3-10 μM PM. Numbers of oocytes with ≥ 5 γH2AX foci were significantly increased both 1 and 8 days after exposure to ≥ 1 μM PM compared to controls. Inhibiting the kinases that phosphorylate H2AX significantly increased follicle loss relative to PM alone. In adult mice, CPA also induced follicle loss in vivo. PM also significantly decreased primordial follicle numbers (≥ 30 μM) and increased γH2AX foci (≥ 3 μM) in cultured PND4 Sprague-Dawley rat ovaries. Results suggest oocytes can detect PM-induced damage at or below concentrations which cause significant follicle loss, and there are quantitative species-specific differences in sensitivity. Surviving oocytes with DNA damage may represent an increased risk for fertility problems or unhealthy offspring.     

Expression levels of estrogen receptor beta in conjunction with aromatase predict survival in non-small cell lung cancer

Estrogen signaling pathways may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) as evidenced by the expression of aromatase and estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) in many of these tumors. Here we examine whether ERα and ERβ levels in conjunction with aromatase define patient groups with respect to survival outcomes and possible treatment regimens. Immunohistochemistry was performed on a high-density tissue microarray with resulting data and clinical information available for 377 patients. Patients were subdivided by gender, age and tumor histology, and survival data was determined using the Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier curves. Neither ERα nor ERβ alone was predictor of survival in NSCLC. However, when coupled with aromatase expression, higher ERβ levels predicted worse survival in patients whose tumors expressed higher levels of aromatase. Although this finding was present in patients of both genders, it was especially pronounced in women ≥ 65 years old, where higher expression of both ERβ and aromatase indicated a markedly worse survival rate than that determined by aromatase alone. Expression of ERβ together with aromatase has predictive value for survival in different gender and age subgroups of NSCLC patients. This predictive value is stronger than each individual marker alone. Our results suggest treatment with aromatase inhibitors alone or combined with estrogen receptor modulators may be of benefit in some subpopulations of these patients.     

RNAi knockdown of Hop (Hsp70/Hsp90 organising protein) decreases invasion via MMP-2 down regulation

We previously identified Hop as over expressed in invasive pancreatic cancer cell lines and malignant tissues of pancreatic cancer patients, suggesting an important role for Hop in the biology of invasive pancreatic cancer. Hop is a co-chaperone protein that binds to both Hsp70/Hsp90. We hypothesised that by targeting Hop, signalling pathways modulating invasion and client protein stabilisation involving Hsp90-dependent complexes may be altered. In this study, we show that Hop knockdown by small interfering (si)RNA reduces the invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, resulting in decreased expression of the downstream target gene, matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2). Hop in conditioned media co-immunoprecipitates with MMP-2, implicating a possible extracellular function for Hop. Knockdown of Hop expression also reduced expression levels of Hsp90 client proteins, HER2, Bcr-Abl, c-MET and v-Src. Furthermore, Hop is strongly expressed in high grade PanINs compared to lower PanIN grades, displaying differential localisation in invasive ductal pancreatic cancer, indicating that the localisation of Hop is an important factor in pancreatic tumours. Our data suggests that the attenuation of Hop expression inactivates key signal transduction proteins which may decrease the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells possibly through the modulation of Hsp90 activity. Therefore, targeting Hop in pancreatic cancer may constitute a viable strategy for targeted cancer therapy.     

Number and nuclear morphology of TH+ and TH− neurons in the mouse ventral midbrain using epifluorescence stereology

The accurate and reliable counting of tyrosine hydroxylase positive (TH+) and tyrosine hydroxylase negative (TH−) neurons in the ventral midbrain is an important measure in studies related to Parkinson's disease and many other disorders associated with this region. Despite recent advancements, the use of stereology remains limited due to a variety of challenges for many users. We implemented a real-time fluorescence detection method and the use of an antibody to the neuron specific nuclear antigen (NeuN) to overcome some challenges for users. We found that the regional value for the two different cell types (TH+ and TH−) varied with the method of detection (chromogenic versus fluorescence) and with different nuclear markers (Nissl, DAPI, or NeuN). The number of both TH+ and TH− neurons was higher using fluorescence detection. The number of TH− neurons was higher using NeuN as a neuronal nuclear marker compared to DAPI. We identified 3 types of neuronal nuclei using NeuN staining characteristics. The method is applicable for mouse and rat. We describe a practical approach for epifluorescence-based counting of these two types of neurons that may offer significant advantages over existing methods for potential users.     

Significance of decoy receptor 3 in sera of hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Objective

Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is amplified and over-expressed in various cancers. The objective of the present study was to investigate the concentration of DcR3 in sera of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and its clinical significance.

Methods

Serum concentrations of DcR3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 67 patients with HCC, 8 with liver cirrhosis, 17 with cholecystitis, and in 28 healthy individuals. Immunohistochemistry was employed to access protein expression of DcR3 in the corresponding HCC tissues.

Results

Serum concentrations of DcR3 in patients with HCC or cirrhosis were significantly higher than in healthy individuals (P < 0.01). Moreover, serum concentrations of DcR3 in HCC patients were associated with TNM stage, para-cirrhosis, capsular infiltration, and metastasis or recurrence of disease (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the serum concentration of DcR3 and protein expression in HCC tissues (r = 0.472, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

The high serum concentration of DcR3 might play a certain role in pathogenesis, progress, and metastasis of HCC. Moreover, DcR3 might serve as a valuable molecular indicator in early diagnosis and contribute to predicting the clinical outcome in HCC patients.     

Involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in MP4-induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis

The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is still unclear. Here we investigate the clinical course, CNS histopathology and peripheral antigen-specific immunity in MP4-induced EAE of BDNF (−/+) mice. We demonstrate that these mice displayed less severe disease compared to BDNF (+/+) mice, reflected by decreased inflammation and demyelination. In correspondence to diminished frequencies of T and B cells in CNS infiltrates, the peripheral MP4-specific T_H1/T_H17 response was attenuated in BDNF (−/+), but not in wild-type animals. In contrast, immunization with ovalbumin triggered similar frequencies of IFN-γ- and IL-17-secreting T cells in both groups. The cytokine secretion and proliferative activity upon mitogen stimulation did not reveal any global defect of T cell function in BDNF (−/+) mice. By influencing the antigen-specific immune response in autoimmune encephalomyelitis, BDNF may support and maintain the disease in ways that go beyond its alleged neuroprotective role.