Serum levels of interleukin‐1α in patients with systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune systemic connective tissue disorder characterized by sclerotic change of the skin and multiple internal organs. Although the pathogenesis of this disorder is still unknown, overproduction of extracellular matrix proteins, including collagens and fibronectin, and aberrant immune activation may be involved in the mechanism. Interleukin (IL)‐1 is one of the key regulators of inflammatory response. IL‐1 is also involved in regulating connective tissue remodeling and cellular differentiation of epithelial and ectodermal cells. There are three major members of the IL‐1 family: IL‐1α, IL‐1β and IL‐1 receptor antagonist. IL‐1α was first described as a factor derived from keratinocytes that stimulates thymocyte proliferation. IL‐1α plays a crucial role in procollagen production by fibroblasts derived from patients with SSc. The present study was undertaken to investigate the serum levels of IL‐1α in patients with SSc. Serum samples were obtained from 66 Japanese patients with SSc and 19 healthy controls. Levels of serum IL‐1α were measured with a specific enzyme‐linked immunoassay kit. Mean serum levels were significantly higher in SSc patients than in those healthy control subjects. Moreover, contracture of phalanges was found at a significantly lower prevalence in SSc patients with elevated serum IL‐1α levels than those with normal levels. These results suggest that IL‐1α may play a role in the pathogenesis of SSc.     

Microenvironment and tumor cell plasticity: An easy way out

Cancer cells undergo genetic changes allowing their adaptation to environmental changes, thereby obtaining an advantage during the long metastatic route, disseminated of several changes in the surrounding environment. In particular, plasticity in cell motility, mainly due to epigenetic regulation of cancer cells by environmental insults, engage adaptive strategies aimed essentially to survive in hostile milieu, thereby escaping adverse sites. This review is focused on tumor microenvironment as a collection of structural and cellular elements promoting plasticity and adaptive programs. We analyze the role of extracellular matrix stiffness, hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, acidity, as well as different cell populations of tumor microenvironment.     

Generation of full‐thickness skin equivalents using hair follicle‐derived primary human keratinocytes and fibroblasts

Skin equivalents are increasingly used as human‐based test systems for basic and preclinical research. Most of the established skin equivalents are composed of primary keratinocytes and fibroblasts, isolated either from excised human skin or juvenile foreskin following circumcisions. Although the potential of hair follicle‐derived cells for the generation of skin equivalents has been shown, this approach normally requires microdissections from the scalp for which there is limited subject compliance or ethical approval. In the present study, we report a novel method to isolate and cultivate keratinocytes and fibroblasts from plucked hair follicles that were then used to generate skin equivalents. The procedure is non‐invasive, inflicts little‐pain, and may allow easy access to patient‐derived cells without taking punch biopsies. Overall, minor differences in morphology, ultrastructure, expression of important structural proteins, or barrier function were observed between skin equivalents generated from hair follicle‐derived or interfollicular keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Interestingly, improved basal lamina formation was seen in the hair follicle‐derived skin equivalents. The presented method here allows easy and non‐invasive access to keratinocytes and fibroblasts from plucked hair follicles that may be useful particularly for the generation of skin disease equivalents.     

IgG4相关性疾病临床病理学特征分析

目的：探讨IgG4相关性疾病的病理学形态、免疫表型特征。方法观察12例IgG4相关性疾病的镜下特点,结合免疫组化EnVision两步法染色检测IgG、IgG4、CD138、CD34的表达,分析IgG4相关性疾病的病理学形态特征。结果 IgG4相关性疾病主要表现为组织弥漫性纤维化;伴大量淋巴细胞、浆细胞浸润,围绕血管神经分布;闭塞性静脉炎形成,免疫组化EnVision两步法染色IgG4阳性浆细胞与IgG阳性浆细胞比例>40%。结论 IgG4相关性疾病临床特点和影像学无特异性,易误诊为肿瘤,术前血清IgG4检测可作为疑似病例的首选方法。     

Bevacizumab对人Tenon囊成纤维细胞迁移抑制作用的研究

目的：观察bevacizumab对人Tenon囊成纤维细胞迁移能力的影响,探讨青光眼术后滤过泡瘢痕化的对策。方法：采用从陕西省人民医院中心实验室细胞库中取出冻存的人Tenon囊成纤维细胞,采用细胞复苏法,遵循无菌原则,进行常规培养。创伤划痕试验：待细胞融合度达到80%时在单层细胞表面划出一条无细胞的刮除带,空白对照组加入不含血清的DMEM培养液,bevacizumab处理组加入 bevacizumab 浓度为1 mg/mL 不含血清的DMEM培养液,分时段(0,24,48,72h)观察并测量划痕宽度。结果：人Tenon囊成纤维传代细胞显微镜下观察呈长梭形,细胞核位于细胞的中部,核较大,胞浆丰富,生长时呈漩涡状排列走形,增殖能力强,符合成纤维细胞的一般形态。冻存和复苏后细胞的形态结构和生物学特点维持不变。细胞划痕试验显示：0h时,两组细胞划痕初始宽度相等;24 h 时两组细胞迁移距离基本一致;48 h 时bevacizumab处理组细胞迁移距离明显小于空白对照组;72 h时空白对照组划痕基本愈合, bevacizumab处理组细胞迁移距离较48 h无明显变化,且细胞死亡数目较多。结论：利用细胞复苏法可成功培养形态结构和生物学特性稳定的传代人Tenon囊成纤维细胞,为实验研究奠定细胞学基础。成纤维细胞本身具有较强的迁移能力,外源性bevacizumab作用可以明显抑制细胞的迁移,作用时间过长时,会造成细胞的过多死亡。抗新生血管药物对成纤维细胞的迁徙具有一定的抑制作用,未来很有可能成为眼科临床抗击青光眼术后滤过泡瘢痕化的重要手段。     

Toxicology of 3-epi-deoxynivalenol,a deoxynivalenol-transformation product by Devosia mutans 17-2-E-8

Microbial detoxification of deoxynivalenol (DON) represents a new approach to treating DON-contaminated grains. A bacterium Devosia mutans 17-2-E-8 was capable of completely transforming DON into a major product 3-epi-DON and a minor product 3-keto-DON. Evaluation of toxicities of these DON-transformation products is an important part of hazard characterization prior to commercialization of the biotransformation application. Cytotoxicities of the products were demonstrated by two assays: a MTT bioassay assessing cell viability and a BrdU assay assessing DNA synthesis. Compared with DON, the IC₅₀ values of 3-epi-DON and 3-keto-DON were respectively 357 and 3.03 times higher in the MTT bioassay, and were respectively 1181 and 4.54 times higher in the BrdU bioassay. Toxicological effects of 14-day oral exposure of the B6C3F₁ mouse to DON and 3-epi-DON were also investigated. Overall, there were no differences between the control (free of toxin) and the 25 mg/kg bw/day or 100 mg/kg bw/day 3-epi-DON treatments in body and organ weights, hematology and organ histopathology. However, in mice exposed to DON (2 mg/kg bw/day), white blood cell numbers and serum immunoglobulin levels were altered relative to controls, and lesions were observed in adrenals, thymus, stomach, spleen and colon. Taken together, in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that 3-epi-DON is substantially less toxic than DON.