Histology and histopathology Vol.19, nº 1 (2004)

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  • Publication
    Open Access
    The distribution and role of myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells in normal pancreas and various pancreatic lesions
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Kuroda, Naoto; Toi, M.; Nakayama, Hiroyuki; Miyazaki, E.; Yamamoto, M.; Hayashi, Yoshihiro; Hiroi, Makoto; Enzan, H.
    To elucidate the distribution and role of myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells in various pancreatic lesions, we performed an immunohistochemical study using a streptoavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique. We selected 43 pancreatic lesions from 1 biopsied, 22 surgically resected and 12 autopsied specimens: acute pancreatitis (n=3), chronic non-obstructive pancreatitis (n=4), obstructive pancreatitis (n=7), islet cell tumor (n=4), serous cystadenoma (n=7), mucinous cystadenoma (n=6), and invasive ductal carcinoma (n=12). In normal pancreas, myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells were predominantly present in the peridcutal and periacinar areas, respectively. Both myofibroblasts and CD34- positive cells were observed in the stroma of chronic pancreatitis. In four islet cell tumors, myofibroblasts were present in the stroma of the tumor center, but no CD34-positive stromal cells were identified. Additionally, myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells were located in the inner layer and the outer layer of the capsule of three islet cell tumors, respectively. In nine of the thirteen cystadenomas, only myofibroblasts were recognized in the cyst wall. In the remaining four cystadenomas, a small number of CD34-positive cells were observed in the cyst wall. In 12 invasive ductal carcinomas, the stroma possessed a lot of myofibroblasts, but there were no or few CD34-positive stromal cells. In conclusion, it seems that the abundant amount of CD34-stromal cells in the main lesions is characteristic of chronic inflammatory lesions. Myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells may play a role in regulating the tumor growth in the capsule of islet cell tumors of the pancreas.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Skeletal muscle regeneration and Trypanosoma cruzi-induced myositis in rats
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Maldonado, I.R.S.C.; Ferreira, M.L.; Camargos, E.R.S.; Chiari, E.; Machado, C.R.S.
    Although Chagas’ disease is known to provoke severe acute myositis, information on muscle regeneration is missing. The current paper shows that during T. cruzi infection in rats, skeletal muscle parasitism and the consequent inflammatory process are higher in muscle with a high proportion of type-I myofibres (soleus and diaphragm). Immunohistochemistry showed an acute inflammatory process characterized by ED1+ and ED2+ macrophages, CD8+ lymphocytes, and NK cells. Parasite-nest rupture provoked segmental degeneration of myofibres followed by regeneration. These phenomena were observed at both light and transmission electron microscopy levels. Myofibre regeneration involved activation of satellite cells assessed by the expression of MyoD, a musclespecific transcription factor. Ultrastructural evidence of fusion of myoblast-like cells with the intact segment of degenerating fibres has been provided. At the chronic phase no signs of fibrosis were found, but sparse and small inflammatory foci were found. Our results argue against the relevant participation of autoimmunity phenomena in both acute and chronic phases and furnish a new view for explaining histopathological findings in human patient muscles.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Neural stem cells and the quest for restorative neurology
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Luque, J.M.; Giménez y Ribotta, M.
    A great deal of interest has attracted the attention of researchers on the potential use of (neural) stem cells in cell replacement or restorative therapies for heretofore incurable CNS pathologies such as brain stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. This short perspective illustrates our view of neural stem cell research with a focus on the stem cell concept, on the in situ identity of neural stem cells and on selected aspects of embryonic and adult neurogenesis. A brief survey of current stem cell-based experimental literature tries to provide a realistic picture of how far we have gone in the quest to establish a restorative neurology.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    The prognostic significance of thymidine phosphorylase, thymidylate synthase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase mRNA expressions in breast carcinomas
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Li, H.; Suo, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Risberg, B.; Karlsson, M.G.; Villman, K.; Nesland, Jahn M.
    Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) have been indicated as possible predictive markers for epithelial malignancies. All these three enzymes are actively involved in 5-FU metabolism. In this report, we investigated mRNA expression of these factors with real-time quantitative PCR in a series of 86 micro-selected breast carcinomas and 8 micro-selected tumour-adjacent normal breast epithelial specimens. Highly variable mRNA expressions of these factors were observed in both normal and cancerous samples. TP and TS mRNA expressions in breast carcinomas were elevated, but only TS mRNA expression showed a trend for statistical difference, compared with the expression in normal breast epithelial samples. Although the DPD mRNA expression range in tumours was also elevated, the average mean was reduced in tumours compared to that in normal samples. No association between mRNA expressions of TP, TS and DPD and clinicopathological features such as histological grade, tumour size, node status, S-phase fraction, ploidy, and clinical stage was found. A negative association between DPD mRNA expression and age was, however, revealed. Ten-year follow-up analysis showed no association between TP and DPD mRNA expression and clinical outcome. An high level of TS mRNA expression, however, was associated with a shorter clinical survival, indicating its potential role as a clinical marker in breast carcinoma.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Promoter methylation status of tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes in neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastric epithelia
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Tamura, G.
    A number of tumor suppressor and tumorrelated genes exhibit promoter hypermethylation with resulting gene silencing in human cancers. In addition, several gene promoters have also been shown to become hypermethylated in non-neoplastic cells during aging. To assess the physiological consequence and clinical significance of gene promoter methylation in gastric epithelia, our laboratory has studied the methylation status of tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes, including APC, DAP-kinase, DCC, E-cadherin, GSTP1, hMLH1, p16, PTEN, RASSF1A, RUNX3 and TSLC1, in neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastric epithelia. The tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes, except APC, were generally unmethylated in non-neoplastic gastric epithelia obtained from younger individuals. The frequencies of methylation increased with age to varying degrees in various genes, although GSTP1 and PTEN methylation was completely absent in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastric epithelia. The methylation frequencies in each gene were found to be comparable in neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastric epithelia, except the methylation of RUNX3 and TSLC1, which was mostly cancer-specific (P<0.01). When methylation frequencies were compared between non-neoplastic gastric epithelia from cancer-bearing and non-cancerbearing stomachs, hMLH1 and p16 methylation was more frequent in those from cancer-bearing stomachs (P<0.01). Promoter methylation in tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes initially occurs in non-neoplastic gastric epithelia, increases with age, and ultimately silences gene function to constitute a field-defect that may predispose tissues to gastric cancer evolution. In clinical applications RUNX3 and TSLC1 methylation may be utilized as molecular diagnostic markers, and hMLH1 and p16 methylation as predictors of malignancy in the stomach.