Involvement of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in germ cell tumours and in normal male fetal germ cell development

Intercellular contacts, mediated by E-cadherin, are essential for germ cell migration and maturation. Furthermore, it has been suggested that decrease or loss of E-cadherin correlates with tumour progression and invasive behaviour. beta-catenin is involved in a number of different processes, including cell--cell interaction when bound to cadherins, and determination of cell fate in pluripotent cells when activated via the Wnt signal-transduction pathway. To shed more light on the role of these factors in normal fetal germ cell development and the pathogenesis of germ cell tumours (GCTs), the present study investigated the presence and localization of E-cadherin and beta-catenin by immunohistochemistry. E-cadherin was only weakly expressed in or absent from fetal germ cells of the second and third trimesters, and was not expressed in carcinoma in situ/intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified (CIS/ITGCNU) and gonadoblastoma, the precursor of an invasive GCT in dysgenetic gonads. In GCTs, it was generally not expressed in seminoma and dysgerminoma, but was found in the vast majority of non-seminoma cells. beta-catenin was found in the cytoplasm of fetal germ cells at all gestational ages and in spermatogenesis in post-pubertal testes. It was also present in CIS/ITGCNU and gonadoblastoma. Whereas seminomas and dysgerminoma were negative, non-seminoma cells were frequently found to express beta-catenin. Expression of both factors therefore reflects the degree of differentiation of these tumours. No differences for either E-cadherin or beta-catenin were observed between samples of tumours resistant or sensitive to chemotherapy, and E-cadherin expression did not correlate with vascular invasion. E-cadherin and beta-catenin therefore play a role in both normal and malignant germ cell development and differentiation that warrants further investigation, but they seem to be of limited value as predictive or prognostic factors in GCTs.     

骨髓间质干细胞体外分化为成骨细胞的实验研究

建立猪骨髓间质干细胞 (mesenchymalstemcells ,MSCs)体外分离培养方法。对猪MSCs体外分化为成骨细胞的能力进行研究。抽取猪骨髓 ,体外培养MSCs。取第二代MSCs ,以含有不同浓度的抗坏血酸、β -磷酸甘油、地塞米松及碱性成纤维细胞生长因子等条件培养基进行成骨细胞诱导分化。通过细胞形态变化 ,碱性磷酸酶染色及钙盐沉积对成骨细胞进行鉴定。结果表明MSC细胞形态由长梭形向多边形转变 ,ALP染色阳性 ,VonKossa染色阳性 ,经体外诱导分化后呈典型的成骨细胞样改变。猪骨髓MSCs可在体外长期、稳定培养 ,具有向成骨细胞分化的潜能 ,可以为骨组织工程研究提供较理想的细胞来源和动物模型。     

Primary rhabdoid tumour of the brain

Summary A posterior fossa tumour in a 3 year old child is presented with characteristic histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical features of rhabdoid tumour. Many tumour cells contained cytoplasmic eosinophilic hyaline inclusions. Ultrastructurally concentric whorls of 10 nm intermediate filaments were identified. Immunohistochemical staining disclosed vimentin, cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen positivity. Renal and extrarenal rhabdoid tumours have been well documented but a primary rhabdoid tumour of the brain is extremely rare. Additional ultrastructural features seen were tubular crystalline inclusions in endoplasmic reticulum and abnormal large mitochondria.     

Beta-catenin abnormalities and associated insulin-like growth factor overexpression are important in phyllodes tumours and fibroadenomas of the breast

The aim of this study was to assess the expression of IGF-I and IGF-II in phyllodes tumours and fibroadenomas and to see if there is any correlation between nuclear beta-catenin expression and IGF-I and IGF-II expression in these tumours. In a previous study, it has been shown that Wnt signalling is important in the pathogenesis of phyllodes tumours of the breast. Epithelial Wnt5a overexpression and stromal Wnt2 overexpression were associated with abnormal, nuclear localization of beta-catenin in the stromal cells of these tumours. However, not all tumours with beta-catenin accumulation showed Wnt overexpression. One other possible cause of beta-catenin accumulation is overexpression of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), as both IGF-I and IGF-II have been shown to stabilize beta-catenin. In this study, 30 fibroadenomas of the breast were assessed for beta-catenin expression using immunohistochemistry and the results were compared with previous data from 119 phyllodes tumours. In situ hybridization was used to assess IGF-I and IGF-II expression in 23 phyllodes tumours and 16 fibroadenomas. Nineteen phyllodes tumours (83%) showed widespread overexpression of IGF-II and 5/23 (22%) showed widespread overexpression of IGF-I. IGF-I expression correlated with nuclear beta-catenin staining in phyllodes tumours. Malignant phyllodes tumours showed no or little IGF-I expression. There was a degree of nuclear beta-catenin expression in the stroma (weak in 33%, moderate in 27%, and strong in 40%) in all fibroadenomas and nuclear beta-catenin staining correlated with IGF-I overexpression. Extensive IGF-II overexpression was also found in the majority of fibroadenomas (12/16). These results support the hypothesis that IGF-I and IGF-II overexpression may be important in the pathogenesis of fibroepithelial neoplasms of the breast and that IGF-I overexpression is likely to be contributing to the nuclear beta-catenin localization observed in the tumours.     

兔骨髓间充质干细胞来源的心肌(样)细胞的诱导分化研究

目的体外诱导骨髓间充质干细胞(Mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)向肌源性细胞分化,探索诱导后的MSCs移植于心肌梗死区的存活和分化情况。方法提取、分离、培养兔的MSCs。经5-氮胞苷诱导后,进行免疫组化,电镜观察。4',6二乙酞基-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)标记MSCs,建立兔心肌梗死模型。实验动物随机分两组:实验组(n=10)在心梗区域注入经诱导后的MSCs;对照组(n=10)在心梗区域注入不含MSCs的培养液。移植4周后,进行病理标本观察和免疫组化检测。结果5-氮胞苷诱导MSCs4周,部分细胞表达肌钙蛋白T(troponin T),电镜观察到肌丝形成。MSCs在体外用DAPI标记,用荧光显微镜观察细胞发蓝色荧光。移植4周后,在实验组中用荧光显微镜观察可见梗死区组织标本中可见DAPI标记带蓝色荧光的供体细胞核,移植细胞表达troponin T。结论MSCs经5-氮胞苷诱导后可向心肌细胞转化。移植细胞可在心肌存活,并向心肌细胞(样)转化。     

Solitary fibrous tumour of the thyroid: Clinicopathological,immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of three cases

We describe three cases of solitary fibrous tumour (SFT) arising from thyroid stroma. Grossly, the tumours were clearly delimited but only partly encapsulated. The following histomorphological growth patterns were observed: bundles of cells in storiform configuration; non-structured bundles; prevalence of fibrous matrix; highly cellular, non-structured; prevalence of loose, non-structured extracellular substance; cellular proliferation and vascular spaces in a haemangiopericytic configuration and a lipomatous component. Immunohistochemical investigation demonstrated intense, diffuse vimentin positivity and focal, less intense actin positivity in all three cases. At electron microscopy we observed a primitive cell of mesenchymal type, with cytoplasm poor in organelles and rich in filaments; this cell sometimes presented differentiation characteristics. SFT is at present the most correct term for the lesions presented here despite some morphological characteristics which differ from cases reported in the literature.     

Immunohistochemical distribution of chromogranins A and B and secretogranin II in neuroendocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract

The aim of the present study was to investigate immunohistochemically the distribution of chromogranin A, chromogranin B, and secretogranin II in a series of 152 neuroendocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. Tumour tissues from 25 argyrophil gastric carcinoids, 18 gastrin and 5 somatostatin-producing tumours, 4 gangliocytic paragangliomas, 49 classical argentaffin and 2 L cell appendiceal carcinoids, 27 classical ileal carcinoids, 17 rectal carcinoids, and 5 poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumours of the stomach and rectum were immunostained with antibodies against chromogranin A, chromogranin B, and secretogranin II. Chromogranin A was the major granin expressed in gastric carcinoids and in serotonin-producing carcinoids of the appendix and the ileum. In contrast, strong chromogranin B and secretogranin II immunoreactivity was found in rectal carcinoids, in which chromogranin A was rarely expressed. Since chromogranin A is a widely used marker for neuroendocrine differentiation, it is of diagnostic importance that some gastrin-producing tumours, gangliocytic paragangliomas, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas, and appendiceal L cell carcinoids completely lacked chromogranin A positivity. It is concluded that the various neuroendocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract show distinctly different patterns of granin expression, probably reflecting their histogenetical origin.     

Therapeutic effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on Cisplatin induced testicular damage in adult male albino rat

Infertility represents a major medical, economic, and psychological problem. Stem cells therapy for infertility has a great interest nowadays especially for cancer survivors at pre-reproductive and reproductive age.

 Thirty-two adult male albino rats were used, divided equally into four groups; Group I (Control group) received isotonic saline intraperitoneally (i.p.) as vehicle. Group II (Cisplatin-treated group) received Cisplatin (i.p.) at a single dose of 7 mg/kg, and then were sacrificed after 5 days. Group III (Stem-cell-treated group) received Cisplatin (i.p.) at a single dose of 7 mg/kg, then after 5 days received adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) (1 × 10⁶). Cells were injected in the rete testis, then after 60 days, the animals were sacrificed. Group IV (Auto healing group) received Cisplatin (i.p.) at a single dose of 7 mg/kg, and then left for 65 days then the animals were sacrificed. Cisplatin administration resulted in degenerative changes in the testicular architecture in the form of thickened irregular BM of seminiferous tubules. The germinal epithelium showed disorganization and marked reduction in the thickness, associated with Sertoli cells preservation. Features of apoptosis assured by elevated caspase-3 expression were noticed. The interstitium showed cellular infiltration and distorted Leydig cells. Injection of (ADMSCs) resulted in great improvement of testicular architecture and increase in the testosterone level associated with strong immune reaction of the CD-44. ADMSCs are recommended as a new treatment modality for male infertility.

Abbreviation: i.p.: intraperitoneally; BM: basement membrane; ADMSCs: adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; WHO: World Health Organization; MSCs: mesenchymal stem cells; DMEM: Dulbecco modified eagles media; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; FACS: fluorescence-activated cell sorting; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; CP: Cisplatin; ROS: reactive oxygen species; CAT: catalase; SOD: superoxide dismutase; OS: oxidative stress; SSCs: spermatogonia stem cells; GCs: germ cells; UCMSCs: umblical cord mesenchymal stem cells; TGFb1: transforming growth factor beta-1; BMP4: Bone morphogenic protein 4; BMP8b: bone morphogenic protein 8b.     

骨髓间充质干细胞与自体腹膜联合修复盆腔自主神经损伤的实验研究

目的观察骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSC)与自体腹膜桥接管联合移植修复盆腔自主神经损伤的效果.方法建立比格犬盆腔自主神经损伤模型,实验组以自体腹膜管填充胶原蛋白海绵+BMSC桥接于缺损神经两端;对照组改BMSC为生理盐水.正常对照组为自体神经移植.术后12周取材,标本切片行HE染色和神经纤维(NF)免疫组化染色.应用图像分析系统对选定数据进行测量.透射电镜观察实验组再生神经纤维超微结构.结果实验组与对照组比较再生神经纤维总数[(1742±185)根比(1131±262)根,P<0.01]、密度[(168±14)根/104μm2比(124±17)根/104μm2,P<0.01]、直径[3.83±0.22)μm比(3.28±0.41)μm,P<0.05]、面积百分比(0.32±0.07比0.21±0.08,P<0.05)差异均有统计学意义,与正常对照组比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).实验组再生神经纤维结构清晰,形态接近正常.结论 BMSC与自体腹膜桥接管联合移植修复盆腔自主神经缺损再生神经纤维生长好,方法可行,与自体神经移植修复效果相当.