Incidence of elevated procalcitonin and presepsin levels after severe trauma: a pilot cohort study

Procalcitonin (PCT) and presepsin (PSEP) are useful biomarkers for diagnosing sepsis; however, elevated PCT and PSEP levels may be observed in conditions other than sepsis. We hypothesised that PCT and PSEP levels could increase after severe traumatic injuries. Trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score of ≥16 from October 2013 to September 2015 were enrolled in our study. We examined PCT and PSEP levels and their positive rates on days 0 and 1. PCT and PSEP levels on days 0 and 1 were compared. Risk factors for increasing sepsis biomarker levels were identified by multivariate logistic regression analyses. In this study, 75 patients were included. PCT levels on days 0 and 1 were 0.1±0.4 and 1.8±6.3 ng/ml, respectively (P=0.02). PSEP levels on days 0 and 1 were 221±261 and 222±207 pg/ml, respectively (P=0.98). As per multivariate logistic regression analyses, packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion was the only independent risk factor for higher PCT levels on day 1 (P=0.04). Using PCT to diagnose sepsis in trauma patients on day 1 requires caution. PRBC transfusion was found to be a risk factor for increasing PCT levels. On the other hand, PSEP levels were not affected by trauma during the early phases.

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Brussels, Belgium. 15-18 March 2016

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.].

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and efficacy of the monoclonal antibody ASK8007 blocking osteopontin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised, placebo controlled, proof-of-concept study

OBJECTIVES

Osteopontin is an extracellular matrix protein with diverse immunomodulatory functions. The authors assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and initial efficacy of the humanised monoclonal antibody ASK8007, which blocks osteopontin.

METHODS

In this double-blind, multicentre, combined first-in-man, single-dose escalation (phase I, part A) and proof-of-concept, multiple-dose (phase IIA, part B) study, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with active disease were randomly assigned to receive ASK8007 or placebo intravenously. Safety monitoring, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses and clinical assessments were performed throughout the study. The expression of phenotypic cell markers was evaluated in synovial tissue biopsy samples obtained at baseline and 43 days after initiation of treatment (part B) by immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis. Two co-primary efficacy endpoints were the change from baseline in the disease activity score evaluated in 28 joints (DAS28) and the change from baseline in the number of CD68 synovial sublining macrophages, both assessed on day 43 (part B).

RESULTS

ASK8007 was overall safe and well tolerated up to the highest studied dose (20 mg/kg). Quantifiable concentrations of ASK8007 were detected in synovial fluid. No differences were observed for changes from baseline in DAS28 and CD68 sublining macrophages between ASK8007 and placebo-treated patients. Within the ASK8007 treatment group, there were also no apparent clinical responses or changes in sublining macrophages. In addition, ASK8007 treatment did not change other assessed biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteopontin blockade is well tolerated and not related to safety concerns. These results consistently show that osteopontin blockade is unlikely to induce robust clinical improvement in RA patients.

Hydrogen sulfide as a novel mediator for pancreatic pain in rodents

OBJECTIVE

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is formed from l-cysteine by multiple enzymes including cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) in mammals, and plays various roles in health and disease. Recently, a pronociceptive role for H(2)S in the processing of somatic pain was identified. Here, the involvement of H(2)S in pancreatic pain is examined.

METHODS

Anaesthetised rats or mice received an injection of NaHS, a donor for H(2)S, or capsaicin into the pancreatic duct, and the expression of spinal Fos protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. Pancreatitis was created by 6 hourly doses of caerulein in unanaesthetised mice, and pancreatitis-related allodynia/hyperalgesia was evaluated using von Frey hairs. CSE activity and protein levels in pancreatic tissues were measured using the colorimetric method and western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

Either NaHS or capsaicin induced the expression of Fos protein in the superficial layers of the T8 and T9 spinal dorsal horn of rats or mice. The induction of Fos by NaHS but not capsaicin was abolished by mibefradil, a T-type Ca(2+) channel blocker. In conscious mice, repeated doses of caerulein produced pancreatitis accompanied by abdominal allodynia/hyperalgesia. Pretreatment with an inhibitor of CSE prevented the allodynia/hyperalgesia, but not the pancreatitis. A single dose of mibefradil reversed the established pancreatitis-related allodynia/hyperalgesia. Either the activity or protein expression of pancreatic CSE increased after the development of caerulein-induced pancreatitis in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that pancreatic NaHS/H(2)S most probably targets T-type Ca(2+) channels, leading to nociception, and that endogenous H(2)S produced by CSE and possibly T-type Ca(2+) channels are involved in pancreatitis-related pain.

Therapy-related myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukemia following paclitaxel- and carboplatin-based chemotherapy in an ovarian cancer patient: a case report and literature review

Alkylating agents have strong leukemogenic potential. There are a number of recent acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) cases related to previous paclitaxel exposure. These leukemias tend to be of aggressive subtypes with long-latency periods. Unlike previously reported cases, the present case was of the secondary acute megakaryoblastic myeloid leukemia (AML M7) subtype. Additionally, it did not harbor a translocation in chromosome 19. A 73-year-old woman was diagnosed with t-AML M7 with antecedent myelodysplasia. Leukemia followed a second induction of paclitaxel- and carboplatin-based chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer. Her second induction began 25 months after completion of her first course of chemotherapy. The increased incidence of postpaclitaxel leukemia suggests a probable role for paclitaxel as a leukemogenic agent. It highlights the importance of assessing for leukemia risk factors prior to beginning paclitaxel therapy.

IFN-alpha enhances TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis through down-regulation of c-Myc protein expression in HL-60 cells

We examined the effect of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in combination with tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha) on growth, differentiation and apoptosis in HL-60 human myeloid leukemia cells. IFN-alpha inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis, but not differentiation, in HL-60 cells. IFN-alpha enhanced TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. We also investigated the expression of c-Myc and Bcl-2 oncoproteins, which are implicated in the survival or death of a cell. The levels of c-Myc protein expression were not changed by IFN-alpha alone at 24hrs of treatment, but were down-regulated at 72 hrs, accompanied by the appearance of apoptotic cells. While, IFN-alpha did not affect the level of Bcl-2 protein expression during this cultivation time. Interestingly, a combination treatment of IFN-alpha with TNF-alpha showed a greater decrease of c-Myc expression than TNF-a alone at 24hrs. Whereas, IFN-alpha did not significantly modulate Bcl-2 expression levels which were down-regulated by TNF-alpha. Therefore, the enhancement of TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis by IFN-a might be closely associated with the greater down-regulation of c-Myc protein, rather than Bcl-2. In contrast, with rapid down-regulation of c-Myc expression caused by TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha down-regulated c-Myc rather late (at 72 hrs), suggesting that both cytokines have a distinct pathway regulating c-Myc protein expression. However, the enhancement of apoptosis in the combination treatment would suggest the presence of a common signaling pathway for induction of apoptosis at down-stream of c-Myc.

Threonyl-tRNA synthetase of archaea: importance of the discriminator base in the aminoacylation of threonine tRNA

To investigate the contribution of the discriminator base of archaeal tRNA(Thr) in aminoacylation by threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS), cross-species aminoacylation between Escherichia coli and Haloferax volcanii, halophilic archaea, was studied. It was found that E. coli ThrRS threonylated the H. volcanii tRNA(Thr) but that E. coli threonine tRNA was not aminoacylated by H. volcanii ThrRS. Results of a threonylation experiment using in vitro mutants of E. coli threonine tRNA showed that only the mutant tRNA(Thr) having U73 was threonylated by H. volcanii ThrRS. These findings indicate that the discriminator base U73 of H. volcanii tRNA(Thr) is a strong determinant for the recognition by ThrRS.

Elution of IgA from kidney tissues exhibiting glomerular IgA deposition and analysis of antibody specificity

Glomerular IgA deposits were eluted from renal biopsy specimens exhibiting IgA nephropathy (IgAN) by using a combination of citrate buffer and collagenase. Collagenase predigestion of the kidney tissues resulted in increased amounts of IgA eluted by citrate buffer, and the elusion procedure did not attenuate the antigen-binding ability of IgA antibody. When reactivity of the eluted IgA with bacteria components was examined by Western blotting, the most notable reaction was observed for Haemophilus influenzae lysates in the form of a 34 kD-band. The reactivity of IgA eluted from the kidney tissues against the H. influenzae 34 kD antigen was evident in 3 of 5 IgAN cases. However, similar reactivity was also evident in 2 of 6 non-IgAN hepatic diseases exhibiting a glomerular IgA deposition. These findings suggest that antibody specificity of IgA against H. influenzae itself may not be directly associated with glomerular injury, although anti-H. influenzae 34 kD IgA was deposited in the kidney, at least in part, by IgAN. Further investigations into the properties of IgA deposited in the glomerulus are needed. Our improved method for IgA elution from kidney tissues would be useful for analysing the pathogenesis of IgAN.

Plasma stromal cell-derived factor-1 during granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced peripheral blood stem cell mobilization

In this report, we examined plasma stromal cell-derived factor-1 levels in normal healthy donors for allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) and in patients for autologous PBSCT using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The average level of plasma stromal cell-derived factor-1 was 2197 pg/ml before granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration and 1899 pg/ml on day 4, demonstrating a significant decrease in the peripheral blood of healthy donors (P=0.0003). In patients for autologous PBSCT, a significant decrease of plasma stromal cell-derived factor-1 in the peripheral blood was also observed (P=0.0464). However, the physiologic gradient of stromal cell-derived factor-1 between peripheral blood and bone marrow was never inverted in normal healthy donors or in autologous PBSCT patients. Our results suggest that stromal cell-derived factor-1 may not be involved in the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced release of CD34(+) cells to the peripheral blood. Further studies of a possible additive effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and stromal cell-derived factor-1 are warranted.

Soluble Fas and soluble Fas L levels in patients with acute pancreatitis

The FasL-Fas system is an apoptosis induction system and plays an important role in homeostasis and biophylaxis. The present study was conducted to investigate soluble Fas (sFas), soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with acute pancreatitis. As acute pancreatitis became severe, the levels of sFas in the serum increased significantly, while those of sFasL decreased significantly. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the serum levels of sFas and those of sFasL. Also, a significant positive correlation was observed between the levels of TNF-alpha and sFas. A greater increase in serum sFas and decrease in serum sFasL levels was observed in patients with complicating multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) than in those without it. The results of the study suggest that the pathological aggravation of acute pancreatitis could be related to changes in the Fas-FasL system.

Uterine adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth: a case report with cytology of overgrown poorly differentiated sarcoma and immunohistochemical identification of epithelial microinvasion

In this report, we describe a case of adenosarcoma of the uterine corpus with overgrown and poorly differentiated sarcoma. The patient was an 80-year-old Japanese woman with abnormal genital bleeding. The endocervical biopsy showed undifferentiated carcinoma, and a cytologic examination at that time revealed the presence of cell types ranging from dispersed spindle to round atypical cells, suggestive of mesenchymal origin. The resected uterus had a polypoid mass in the corpus of the uterus and a solid white mass with the appearance of frank malignancy in the endocervix. The phyllode pattern was evident in the polypoid lesion and a diagnosis of adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth was made. The epithelial component was atypical with occasional microinvasion, which mimicked rhabdomyoblasts, but was easily identified as microinvasion by positive staining for epithelial, but not myogenic, markers. This case stresses the importance of the cytologic smear in the identification of frank sarcoma in an adenosarcoma, and it furthermore highlights the usefulness of immunohistochemistry in the distinction of epithelial microinvasion from rhabdomyogenic differentiation.

Hemophagocytosis associated with MPO-ANCA positive vasculitis in systemic sclerosis

Hemophagocytosis is a histiocytic proliferative condition associated with underlying disorders such as infection, lymphoma and autoimmune disease. We describe here a patient with systemic sclerosis who developed MPO-ANCA positive necrotizing vasculitis and hemophagocytosis concomitantly. Vasculitis supervened on a prior systemic sclerosis, and no causative disorder of hemophagocytosis could be found other than active vasculitis, suggesting that an occurrence of hemophagocytosis is associated with underlying vasculitis. Immunosuppressive therapy resulted in excellent improvement of both the hemophagocytosis and vasculitis. On the other hand, this case shows the elevated serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and M-CSF which may be involved in the pathogenesis of hemophagocytosis. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration indicating the possibility of vasculitis-associated hemophagocytosis.

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma: a new clinicopathological entity and the hypotheses on carcinogenesis

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma is reviewed in its clinicopathological and oncogenetic aspects. This variant of adenocarcinoma has been found to be an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) -producing carcinoma arising in extrahepatic organs, and it mimics hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of morphology and function. Vascular invasion, usually prominent, is often complicated by extensive liver metastases. A prompt and accurate diagnosis of hepatoid adenocarcinoma is important because the prognosis is very poor compared with that of common types of adenocarcinoma. The characteristic features of hepatoid adenocarcinoma are summarized on the basis of our own experiences and the literature. In addition, a possible molecular mechanism that under-lies the ectopic appearance of the hepatic phenotype is discussed.

Age related expression of Werner's syndrome protein in selected tissues and coexpression of transcription factors

AIMS

Werner's syndrome (WS) is an uncommon autosomal recessive disease resulting from mutational inactivation of human WRN helicase, Werner's syndrome protein (WRNp). Patients with WS progressively develop a variety of aging characteristics after puberty. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of WRNp and the expression of the transcription factors regulating WRN gene expression in a variety of human organs in an attempt to understand the WS phenotype.

METHODS

Tissue specimens were obtained from 16 controls aged from 27 gestational weeks to 70 years of age and a 56 year old female patient with WS. The distribution of WRNp and the expression of the transcription factors regulating WRN gene expression-SP1, AP2, and retinoblastoma protein (Rb)- were studied in the various human organs by immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses.

RESULTS

In the healthy controls after puberty, high expression of WRNp was detected in seminiferous epithelial cells and Leydig cells in the testis, glandular acini in the pancreas, and the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis in the adrenal cortex. In addition, the SP1 and AP2 transcription factors, which regulate WRNp gene expression, appeared in an age dependent manner in those regions where WRNp was expressed. In controls after puberty, SP1 was expressed in the testis and adrenal gland, whereas AP2 was expressed in the pancreas.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the age specific onset of WS may be related to age dependent expression of WRNp in specific organs.

Uterine adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth: A case report with cytology of overgrown poorly differentiated sarcoma and immunohistochemical identification of epithelial microinvasion

In this report, we describe a case of adenosarcoma of the uterine corpus with overgrown and poorly differentiated sarcoma. The patient was an 80-year-old Japanese woman with abnormal genital bleeding. The endocervical biopsy showed undifferentiated carcinoma, and a cytologic examination at that time revealed the presence of cell types ranging from dispersed spindle to round atypical cells, suggestive of mesenchymal origin. The resected uterus had a polypoid mass in the corpus of the uterus and a solid white mass with the appearance of frank malignancy in the endocervix. The phyllode pattern was evident in the polypoid lesion and a diagnosis of adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth was made. The epithelial component was atypical with occasional microinvasion, which mimicked rhabdomyoblasts, but was easily identified as microinvasion by positive staining for epithelial, but not myogenic, markers. This case stresses the importance of the cytologic smear in the identification of frank sarcoma in an adenosarcoma, and it furthermore highlights the usefulness of immunohistochemistry in the distinction of epithelial microinvasion from rhabdomyogenic differentiation.

Suppression of mediastinal metastasis by uracil-tegafur or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) using a lymphogenous metastatic model in a human lung cancer cell line

PURPOSE AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The extent of lymphatic metastasis is the most important factor in the prognosis for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, suppression of lymphatic metastasis provides an improvement in survival time in lung cancer patients. We established a new patient-like model for lung cancer metastasis by orthotopic implantation in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice and demonstrated the lymphogenous spread histologically using human NSCLC cell lines. The cardinal features of this model are a simple procedure and a similarity to the metastatic form of human lung cancer. The purpose of this study is to assess the inhibitory action of uracil-tegafur (UFT) and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) on lymphatic metastasis and life span prolongation in our lymphogenous metastatic model system using SCID mice.

RESULTS

The inhibition ratios of mediastinal lymph node metastasis were 86.2, 94, and 92.1% for 12 mg/kg body UFT, 17 mg/kg body UFT, and 10 mg/kg body CDDP, respectively. The administration of anticancer drugs prolonged the life span by 4.6 days (17 mg/kg body UFT) and 8 days (10 mg/kg body CDDP) in MST.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that UFT alone and CDDP alone suppressed mediastinal metastasis and prolonged the life span in our lymphogenous metastatic model. Regardless of the administration route and characteristics of anticancer drugs, cytostatic or cytotoxic, our model is capable of evaluating the inhibitory effect of drugs on lymphatic metastasis. This model should make an important contribution to our understanding of the mechanism and selection of drugs for antilymphatic metastasis in lung cancer.

Simultaneous squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix and upper genital tract: loss of heterozygosity analysis demonstrates clonal neoplasms of cervical origin

Five cases of cervical squamous cell carcinoma with synchronous superficial squamous cell carcinoma in the upper genital tract were genetically analyzed to demonstrate the possibility of a clonal neoplastic process. In these cases, the cervical lesions were squamous cell carcinoma in situ (cases 1, 2, and 3) and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (cases 4 and 5). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analyses with a panel of microsatellite markers revealed a monoclonal process in four of the five cases. Homogeneous LOH throughout the microdissected lesions was most frequently detected on 6p and 6q (3 cases), followed by 11p and 11q (2 cases), loci known to be commonly lost in typical cervical squamous cell carcinoma. In two cases, genetic progression in terms of additional LOH was found in the upper genital tract but not in the cervix. Most of these squamous cell carcinomas were monoclonal neoplasms originating from the cervical mucosa with subsequent superficial migration of the tumor clone to the upper genital mucosa, and in some cases, genetic progression.

Analyses of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in cyst fluid of serous ovarian tumors

OBJECTIVES

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) in serous tumors of the ovary was investigated to determine whether and how these proteolytic enzymes are associated with the progression of these tumors.

METHODS

Cyst fluid of 24 serous ovarian tumors (8 adenocarcinomas, 2 borderline tumors and 14 adenomas) was analyzed using gelatin/casein zymography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Concentrations of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were statistically higher in serous adenocarcinomas than in serous adenomas (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively), while the concentrations of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 showed no significant difference between adenocarcinomas and adenomas. The molar ratio of TIMP-2/MMP-2 was lower in adenocarcinomas than in adenomas (p < 0.05). With gelatin zymography, the MMP-9 band was detected in all serous adenocarcinomas, but only in 8 of 14 serous adenomas (p = 0.05). Using casein zymography, MMP-7 was more frequently detected in serous adenocarcinomas (7/8) than in serous adenomas (4/14; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These observations indicate that matriolytic enzymes such as MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9 are secreted into cyst fluid from serous adenocarcinoma tissues. In part, the aggressive invasion of serous carcinoma cells may be explained by the expression of matriolytic enzymes.

Anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody with specific reactivity with vascular endothelial cells in rat glomeruli

Inoculation with anti-Thy-1 antibodies (Abs) in rats induces glomerulonephritis resembling human mesangiolytic and/or mesangioproliferative diseases. Some anti-Thy-1 monoclonal Abs (mAbs) react with both mesangial and glomerular endothelial cells, whereas others react solely with mesangial cells in rat kidney. These findings suggest that the rat Thy-1 molecule possesses at least 2 variant forms, including a mesangial and a vascular endothelial isoform. However, anti-Thy-1 mAbs with specific reactivity with glomerular endothelial cells have not been available. We describe here a unique anti-rat Thy-1 mAb, TM78-8. The epitope for TM78-8 is closely related, but not identical, to that for OX-7, a commercially available anti-rat Thy-1 mAb. Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy confirm that TM78-8 reacts exclusively with Thy-1 antigens on the surface of vascular endothelial cells in rat glomeruli. TM78-8 may be a suitable marker for rat glomerular endothelial cells as well as for the vascular endothelial isoform of the rat Thy-1 molecule. Intravenous injection of TM78-8 did not induce glomerulonephritis in rats, whereas OX-7 did, indicating that TM78-8 is not nephritogenic. This finding also corresponds with the current consensus that Thy-1 antigens expressed on mesangial cells play an essential role in the development of Thy-1 nephritis.

Autoimmune neutropenia with cyclic oscillation of neutrophil count after steroid administration

A 16-year-old female patient was evaluated for pancytopenia. She had a white blood cell count of 1.6 x 10(9)/L with 0.02 neutrophils and a platelet count of 19 x 10(9)/L. In the bone marrow, mature granulocytes were markedly decreased in number, but no atypical cells were present. Antineutrophil antibody was demonstrated by flow cytometry, and the level of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G was increased. A diagnosis of autoimmune neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was made. Interestingly, neutrophil and platelet counts fluctuated cyclically after the initiation of prednisolone therapy. The neutrophil count fluctuated between 0.1 x 10(9)/L and 7 x 10(9)/L, and the platelet count fluctuated between 19 x 10(9)/L and 175 x 10(9)/L, in 4-week cycles. Following splenectomy, neutrophil and platelet counts normalized. We believe the immune mechanism of recurrent neutropenia in this patient differs from that in other patients with cyclic neutropenia reported with stem cell disorders.

Clear cell variant of malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

A rare variant of malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix mimicking clear cell carcinoma or clear cell sarcoma is described.

CASE

A 33-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to the hospital complaining of genital discharge and lower back pain. The stage was FIGO IIB and radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were done. Pathological examination, immunohistochemical studies of melanin granules, and molecular analysis of the EWS/ATF-1 fusion gene were also done. A diffuse proliferation of amelanotic clear cells was detected in the uterine cervix. Tumor cells were positive for HMB 45, Melan-A (MART-1), and S-100 protein and negative for epithelial markers. The EWS/ATF-1 fusion gene was not detected.

CONCLUSION

This is apparently the first report of a case of clear cell melanoma of the uterine cervix. Despite its rarity, this variant of malignant melanoma should be considered when diagnosing clear cell neoplasms of the uterine cervix.

Activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 is correlated with invasiveness in thymic epithelial tumors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS: Matrix degradation, which is a critical event in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis, is considered to be caused by the action of proteolytic enzymes.

METHODS

We examined the gelatinolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and the activity of active and inactive forms of MMP-2 in five thymi, five noninvasive thymomas, eight invasive thymomas, and five thymic carcinomas by quantitative gelatinolytic zymography.

RESULTS

The gelatinolytic activity of active MMP-2 in five thymi was zero. The mean gelatinolytic activity of active MMP-2 was 0.020 +/- 0.015 in noninvasive thymoma, 0.084 +/- 0.098 in invasive thymoma and 0.246 +/- 0.194 in thymic carcinoma. The gelatinolytic activity of active MMP-2 correlated with the invasiveness of thymic epithelial tumors (Spearman rank correlation: r-value = 0.532). The gelatinolytic activity of active MMP-2 in three thymoma cases with microscopic capsular invasion was the same as that of noninvasive thymoma. When thymoma cases showing microscopic capsular invasion were classified into the "macroscopically noninvasive thymoma" group, the gelatinolytic activity of active MMP-2 correlated with the invasiveness of thymic epithelial tumors (Spearman rank correlation: r-value = 0.621).

CONCLUSIONS

The gelatinolytic activity of active MMP-2 significantly correlated with the invasiveness in thymic epithelial tumors. J. Surg. Oncol. 2001;76:169-175.

Interleukin 18 (IL-18) levels in patients with sepsis

IL-18 levels in the blood of 13 sepsis patients were assessed. The IL-18 values were significantly correlated with their Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores, and they were a good reflection of the severity of the disease. There was also a strong correlation between the IL-18 values and the patients' inflammatory cytokine levels. The results suggested strong involvement of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of sepsis.

Nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels and hemodynamics during septic shock

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a vasorelaxant. We investigated the relationship between nitrite/nitrate (NOx), which are the final metabolites of NO, and hemodynamics during septic shock. We also examined tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and endotoxin. A significant negative correlation was observed between NOx levels and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP; r = -0.6075, P = 0.0028). A significant positive correlation was noted between NOx levels and the cardiac index (CI; r = 0.5934, P = 0.0038). A significant negative correlation was found between NOx levels and the systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI; r = -0.4354, P = 0.0485). A significant positive correlation was observed between NOx levels and the stroke volume index (SVI; r = 0.5040, P = 0.0186). A significantly close positive correlation was also observed between TNF-alpha levels and NOx levels (r = 0.7848, P < 0.0001). These findings suggest that NOx levels are closely associated with hemodynamics during septic shock, resulting in a vascular relaxing effect.

Clarification of the active gelatinolytic sites in human ovarian neoplasms using in situ zymography

Tissues from 26 human ovarian common epithelial tumors were examined to determine where and how gelatinolytic activity was present, in relation to tumor-stromal interaction and histologic types. For this purpose, we used in situ zymography, a newly developed technique using gelatin-coated film. Gelatinolytic activity was evident in ovarian carcinomas and in borderline tumors. Benign tumors had no or only weak activity. Four tissue localization patterns of gelatinolysis were identified: pattern A, tumor cytoplasm; pattern B, tumor-stromal junction; pattern C, stroma; and pattern D, cystic fluid. Mucinous cystadenocarcinomas showed A and/or D patterns. One mucinous and one serous adenocarcinoma and one mucinous borderline tumor had a B pattern. Most serous and all clear cell adenocarcinomas showed strong gelatinolysis of C pattern, especially in the desmoplastic stroma, an area where the tumor cells were dispersed. Immunohistochemically in 12 adenocarcinomas and 3 borderline tumors, the tumor cytoplasm was positive for matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2) (5 cases), MMP-7 (9 cases), and MMP-9 (6 cases). Stromal components were positive for MMP-2 in 5 cases and for MMP-9 in 3 cases, but they were not positive for MMP-7. MMP antigens were mostly distributed in an almost identical pattern consistent with that seen with in situ zymography. In situ zymography clarified the cellular localization of active gelatinolysis in human ovarian neoplasms, a finding which supports the view that interaction between tumor and stroma is critical for tumor growth. This newly developed method contributes to a better understanding of biologic features of ovarian malignancies.

Vaccination effect of interleukin-6-producing pancreatic cancer cells in nude mice: a model of tumor prevention and treatment in immune-compromised patients

In an effort to explore properties important in hematogenous metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, we previously demonstrated that tumor-derived interleukin (IL)-6 is a crucial factor that conveys resistance to liver metastasis. Here we extend the study to examine a possible vaccination effect of tumor-derived IL-6 in T-cell-deficient nude mice, as a model for predicting the effect in immune-compromised patients. We used a pair of IL-6-nonproducing and highly producing pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines, PCI-43 and PCI-43h, respectively. The reaction intensity of anti-PCI IgG antibodies in host nude mice was maximal 28 days after inoculation of PCI-43h cells, and remained high thereafter. A fraction of the pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, namely, PCI-6, -10, and -43, expressed surface antigenic determinant(s) reactive with the IgG; but the others, PCI-19, -24, -55, -64, -66, -68, -72, and -79, did not. Inoculation of PCI-43h but not PCI-43 suppressed growth of simultaneously inoculated PCI-43, but not PCI-24 xenografts. In addition, administration of PCI-43h, but not PCI-43 suppressed the growth of PCI-43 that was xenografted 4 weeks later, thus revealing a vaccination effect of IL-6-producing PCI-43h, but not IL-6-nonproducing PCI-43. These data, obtained from T-cell-deficient nude mice, suggest an in vivo role for IL-6 in inducing IgG-mediated, pancreatic carcinoma-specific vaccination against a thymus-independent antigen.

Anti-angiogenic treatment for peritoneal dissemination of pancreas adenocarcinoma: a study using TNP-470

We established peritoneal dissemination-prone subcultures (PCI-43p3) using nude mice by a repetitive in vivo selection of intraperitoneally inoculated PCI-43, a pancreas adenocarcinoma cell line. The subcultures showed upregulated expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, but not MMP-2 in culture supernatants. They also produced increased amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which was not associated with alterations in isoforms of VEGF mRNA. PCI-43p3 cells attached to cultured mesothelial cell monolayers more readily than did the parent PCI-43 cells. The angiogenesis inhibiting agent, TNP-470, at 30 mg / kg was administered to the model mice, resulting in a prominent suppression of the establishment of peritoneal nodules. The suppression was dependent on the duration of TNP-470 treatment. TNP-470 treatment significantly suppressed proliferation of tumor cells in disseminated nodules, assessed in terms of immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). TNP-470 did not affect the in vitro attachment between PCI-43p3 and mesothelial cells. The combined data show that anti-angiogenic treatment profoundly suppresses the in vivo process of peritoneal dissemination.