Proteases and their inhibitors as prognostic factors for high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Ovarian carcinoma is one of the most lethal malignancies, but only very few prognostic biomarkers are known. The degradome, comprising proteases, protease non-proteolytic homologues and inhibitors, have been involved in the prognosis of many cancer types, including ovarian carcinoma. The prognostic significance of the whole degradome family has not been specifically studied in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. A targeted DNA microarray known as the CLIP-CHIP microarray was used to identify potential prognostic factors in ten high-grade serous ovarian cancer women who had early recurrence (<1.6 years) or late/no recurrence after first line surgery and chemotherapy. In women with early recurrence, we identified seven upregulated genes (TMPRSS4, MASP1/3, SPC18, PSMB1, IGFBP2, CFI – encoding Complement Factor I – and MMP9) and one down-regulated gene (ADAM-10). Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the prognostic effect of these 8 candidate genes in an independent cohort of 112 high-grade serous ovarian cancer women. Outcomes were progression, defined according to CA-125 criteria, and death. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were done to estimate the associations between each protein and each outcome. High ADAM-10 expression (intensity of 2–3) was associated with a lower risk of progression (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29-0.87). High complement factor I expression (intensity 2–3) was associated with a higher risk of progression (adjusted HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.17–4.53) and death (adjusted HR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.72–6.79). Overall, we identified the prognostic value of two proteases, ADAM-10 and complement factor I, for high-grade serous ovarian cancer which could have clinical significance.     

Rational design of hypoallergens applied to the major cat allergen Fel d 1

BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only treatment for allergic disease providing long-lasting symptom relief. Currently, it is mainly based on the use of crude allergen extracts. The treatment may be improved by the use of genetically engineered allergens, hypoallergens, aiming at a more effective and safer therapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide a rational design of hypoallergen candidates for immunotherapy by using structural information and knowledge of B and T cell epitopes of an allergen. METHODS: The three-dimensional structure of the major cat allergen Fel d 1 was systematically altered by duplication of selected T cell epitopes and disruption of disulphide bonds. Seven Fel d 1 derivatives were generated and screened for allergenic reactivity in comparison with recombinant Fel d 1 in competition-ELISA. The allergenicity was further evaluated in basophil activation experiments and T cell reactivity was assessed in a lymphoproliferation assay. RESULTS: Three out of seven Fel d 1 derivatives, with two duplicated T cell epitopes and one or two disulphide bonds disrupted, were carefully evaluated. The three derivatives displayed a strong reduction in allergenicity with 400-900 times lower IgE-binding capacity than recombinant Fel d 1. In addition, they induced a lower degree of basophil activation and similar or stronger T cell proliferation than recombinant Fel d 1. CONCLUSION: By a rational approach, we have constructed three Fel d 1 hypoallergens with reduced IgE-binding capacities and retained T cell reactivities. This strategy may be applied to any well-characterized allergen to improve immunotherapy for allergic patients.     

AMACR(P504S)、P63、34βE12联合检测在前列腺癌早期诊断中的应用

目的:探讨AMACR(P504S)、P63、34βE12联合检测在前列腺癌(PCa)早期诊断中的临床应用价值。方法:应用即用型组合式单克隆抗体和双酶标记的免疫组化MaxvisionTM一步法检测42例PCa、12例高级别前列腺上皮内瘤变(HGPIN)和30例良性前列腺增生(BPH)穿刺活检标本中AMACR、P63、34βE12的表达情况。比较Glea-son评分各组中AMACR阳性表达情况。结果:AMACR、P63、34βE12抗原在PCa和BPH穿刺标本中的表达差异均有极显著性(P<0.01),PCa组织中AMACR阳性表达率为100%,无P63和34βE12表达;BPH组织中均无AM-ACR表达,P63和34βE12均高表达。HGPIN中AMACR的阳性表达率(91.67%)与BPH差异有极显著性(P<0.01),与PCa差异无显著性(P>0.05);P63和34βE12阳性表达率HGPIN(100%)与PCa差异有极显著性(P<0.01),而与BPH差异无显著性(P>0.05)。AMACR表达强弱与PCa的Gleason评分无关(P>0.05)。结论:AMACR是PCa高度敏感和特异的标志物,P63和34βE12联合标记基底细胞的特异性高,3者联合检测能增加前列腺穿刺活检标本诊断的准确性,在PCa早期诊断中具有重要的临床应用价值。     

血小板激活因子拮抗剂SRI63-441对缺血再灌注损伤大鼠心肌的保护作用

目的 研究血小板激活因子拮抗剂SRI63-441对大鼠缺血再灌注损伤心肌的保护作用。方法 将实验大鼠分成3组,对照组未行缺血及药物治疗,再灌注组及SRI63—441治疗组结扎大鼠左冠状动脉前降支(LAD)缺血30分钟后,行再灌注10小时,其中治疗组结扎前1分钟给予SRI63—441(1mg/kg),观察大鼠再灌注心律失常,再灌注区心肌组织中丙二醛浓度、超氧化物歧化酶活性的变化。结果 SRI63—441能明显降低再灌注时室性心律失常的严重程度,使缺血30分钟再灌注10小时大鼠的心肌梗塞面积从21.6±3.1％降至12.7±2.5％,心肌组织中脂质过氧化最终产物丙二醛(MDA)含量下降,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性升高。结论SRI63—441用于大鼠心肌缺血再灌注可减少心肌损伤,提示PAF为心肌再灌注损伤的重要介质,而PAF拮抗剂有可能用于心肌缺血再灌注损伤的治疗。     

ΔNp63蛋白在膀胱移行上皮癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的 :探讨 p5 3基因家族新成员截短型p6 3(△Np6 3)在膀胱癌组织中的表达及其意义。 方法 :采用免疫组织化学SP法检测 4 0例膀胱移行上皮癌 (TCC)、6例膀胱内翻性乳头状瘤和 8例正常膀胱移行上皮中△Np6 3的表达 ,并分析△Np6 3表达与膀胱癌病理类型、临床分期的关系。 结果 :正常膀胱移行上皮、膀胱内翻性乳头状瘤、TCC中△Np6 3的阳性表达率分别为 37.5 % (3/ 8)、6 6 .7% (4/ 6 )、10 0 % (40 / 4 0 ) ,组间差异有统计学意义 (P <0 .0 1)。TCCG3 级与G2 级△Np6 3的强阳性、中度阳性表达率显著高于G1级 (P <0 .0 1)。Ta～T1期以△Np6 3弱阳性为主 (6 6 .7% ) ,随TCC浸润程度的增加 ,△Np6 3染色强度逐渐增强。T2 期△Np6 3强阳性表达率为 35 .3% ,T3 ～T4期增至 6 3.6 %。结论 :△Np6 3在TCC中高表达 ,与TCC病理分级、临床分期密切相关 ;△Np6 3可能参与TCC的发生、发展 ,是评估TCC预后的潜在因素之一。     

HFE codon 63/282 (H63D/C282Y) dimorphism in German patients with genetic hemochromatosis

Abstract: Genetic hemochromatosis (GH) is closely associated with genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6. Recently, a candidate gene for GH, with structural similarities to MHC class I genes, designated HLA-H and presently named HFE, has been cloned. The HFE gene is localized telomeric to the MHC and several reports have indicated that the HFE gene is mutated in GH patients. In the present study we have analyzed the relationship of HFE gene variants and disease manifestation in GH patients and family members. Fifty-seven patients with GH, 73 family members and 153 healthy blood donors were studied for the amino acid dimorphism at codon 63 (His63Asp=H63D) and codon 282 (Cys282Tyr= C282Y) of the HFE gene. The codon 63 and 282 dimorphism were defined by PCR amplification of genomic DNA samples and restriction enzyme digestion using RsaI/SnaBI for C282Y and Bcll/Mbo 1 for H63D. Ferritin, transferrin serum levels and total iron-binding capacity were determined prior to therapeutic intervention. The Tyr-282 substitution occurred in 53 (93%) of patients compared with 8 (5.2%) of controls (OR=169, P >0.0001). Fifty-one (90%) patients were Tyr-282 homozygous. In contrast, the Asp-63 substitution was present in 5 (8.8%) of the patients compared with 34 (22%) of controls (OR=0.39, P =NS) with none of the patients being homozygous. In Tyr-282 homozygous GH patients serum ferritin levels, transferrin saturation, liver iron and liver iron index were elevated significantly compared to Tyr-282-negative patients, whereas no difference was observed between Tyr/Cys-282 heterozygous and Tyr-282-negative patients.     

Monitoring of basophil activation using CD63 and CCR3 in allergy to muscle relaxant drugs

Allergic or pseudoallergic reactions that occur during anesthesia have been increasing for the last few years. To date, the diagnosis of allergy to muscle relaxants remains difficult. In this respect, we developed a flow cytometric method for the study of drug-induced basophil degranulation using CD63 and CCR3. Fifty patients who developed clinical features evocative of allergic reactions immediately after induction of anesthesia were included and classified into two groups. Group 1 (n = 39) comprised true allergic patients, who developed typical signs of shock associated to positive skin testing. Group 2 (n = 11) consisted of patients whose clinical history was not typical and skin testing was negative or nonconclusive. Seventeen control subjects were also studied in this report. We compared data from flow cytometry to skin tests, specific IgE, and histamine release results. Flow cytometry showed a sensitivity of 54%, while that of specific IgE was similar, at 62%. Interestingly, when considering the sensitivity of IgE + CD63 for diagnosis, we reached a sensitivity value of 80%. Of 15 negative results for specific IgE, we found 7 positive CD63 tests, while histamine release gave positive results in only 2 cases. Furthermore, the CD63 protocol showed good specificity (100%). We conclude that our flow cytometry protocol is a promising tool in allergy diagnosis since it is specific and complementary to specific IgE detection.     

Cell biology and pathology of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells

Growing evidence revealed that liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) play several important roles in physiology and pathology of the liver. It has been well understood that their structural characteristics, such as the membrane sieve and lack of basement membrane, facilitate direct contact of soluble and insoluble serum substances with hepatic parenchymal cells, resulting in enhancement of hepatic metabolic activity. In addition, SEC is now regarded as a member of the scavenger endothelial cells, which have potential to eliminate a variety of macromolecules from the blood circulation by receptor-mediated endocytosis. It is reported that molecules preferentially eliminated by SEC are denatured or modified proteins such as advanced glycation end products, extracellular matrix components including hyaluronic acid, and some lipoproteins. The nature of the scavenger receptors corresponding to these molecules remains to be clarified. Recently, it was noted that SEC has an antigen-presenting function similar to dendritic cells. Taken together, it is suggested that SEC, cooperating with Kupffer cells and hepatic dendritic cells, may partake of immunoregulatory functions in the liver. SEC also plays a pivotal role in the pathological process of ischemia-reperfusion injury following liver surgery and liver transplantation. Thus, it is of importance to elucidate the mechanisms of apoptosis and proliferation of SEC. Recent results on the regulation of growth and apoptotic signaling of SEC are discussed.     

Immunohistochemical detection of p53 homolog p63 in solid cell nests, papillary thyroid carcinoma, and hashimoto's thyroiditis: A stem cell hypothesis of papillary carcinoma oncogenesis

Most models suggest that the cell of origin of papillary carcinoma is the mature thyroid follicular epithelial cell. In a recent study, p63 was detected in papillary carcinoma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and in squamoid aggregates and solid cell nests (SCNs), embryonic remnants found sporadically in the fully developed thyroid. In the present study, the relationship between solid cell nests and papillary carcinoma was investigated further. Four-micrometer sections from 88 routinely fixed and processed archival thyroidectomy specimens were pretreated with citric acid pH 6.0 for antigen retrieval, then incubated overnight with anti-p63 monoclonal antibody 4A4. Slides were stained with a streptavidin-biotin kit and diaminobenzidine as chromogen and were counterstained with hematoxylin. Squamoid aggregates or SCNs were noted in 21 specimens. Several morphologic variants of SCNs were found, all of which displayed p63 positivity. These included undifferentiated SCNs and those displaying commitment toward squamoid and ciliated glandular differentiation. Small, morphologically inconspicuous aggregates of p63-positive cells were commonly found in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Commitment of p63-positive undifferentiated cells toward thyroid follicular epithelial differentiation was occasionally noted. One SCN variant, also associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, was a floretlike arrangement of p63-positive cells with fusiform nuclei. p63 staining was strong and uniform in some SCNs, but in other SCNs it was compartmentalized and homologous to stem cell-staining patterns in normal squamous or bronchial epithelia. Stem cell-like staining, associated with compartmentalized p63 staining or p63-positive undifferentiated cells, was noted in 7 of 27 papillary carcinomas. p63 immunostaining is a highly sensitive means of detecting SCNs. p63 expression patterns in SCNs and a subset of papillary carcinomas are closely homologous to stem cell-associated p63 staining patterns that have been described elsewhere in squamous and bronchial epithelia. We propose a stem-cell-associated model of papillary carcinoma oncogenesis that suggests that (1) p63-positive embryonal remnants rather than mature follicular cells are the cells of origin of a subset of papillary carcinomas; (2) these p63-positive cells are pluripotent and may stay undifferentiated or undergo benign squamoid or glandular maturation, may undergo thyroid follicular epithelial differentiation, may undergo oncogenic change leading to papillary carcinoma, or may trigger an immune reaction, resulting in lymphoid infiltration and Hashimoto's thyroiditis; and (3) Hashimoto's thyroiditis and papillary carcinoma may therefore be linked etiologically, because both disorders may be initiated by the same population of pluripotent p63-positive embryonal stem cell remnants.