Endometrial cancer is the most commonly diagnosed gynecologic malignancy worldwide; yet the tumor microenvironment, especially the fibroblast cells surrounding the cancer cells, is poorly understood. We established four primary cultures of fibroblasts from human endometrial cancer tissues (cancer-associated fibroblasts, CAFs) using antibody-conjugated magnetic bead isolation. These relatively homogenous fibroblast cultures expressed fibroblast markers (CD90, vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin) and hormonal (estrogen and progesterone) receptors. Conditioned media collected from CAFs induced a dose-dependent proliferation of both primary cultures and cell lines of endometrial cancer in vitro (175%) when compared to non-treated cells, in contrast to those from normal endometrial fibroblast cell line (51%) (P<0.0001). These effects were not observed in fibroblast culture derived from benign endometrial hyperplasia tissues, indicating the specificity of CAFs in affecting endometrial cancer cell proliferation. To determine the mechanism underlying the differential fibroblast effects, we compared the activation of PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk pathways in endometrial cancer cells following treatment with normal fibroblasts- and CAFs-conditioned media. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of both phosphorylated forms of Akt and Erk were significantly down-regulated in normal fibroblasts-treated cells, but were up-regulated/maintained in CAFs-treated cells. Treatment with specific inhibitors LY294002 and U0126 reversed the CAFs-mediated cell proliferation (P<0.0001), suggesting for a role of these pathways in modulating endometrial cancer cell proliferation. Rapamycin, which targets a downstream molecule in PI3K pathway (mTOR), also suppressed CAFs-induced cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis. Cytokine profiling analysis revealed that CAFs secrete higher levels of macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, RANTES and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) than normal fibroblasts. Our data suggests that in contrast to normal fibroblasts, CAFs may exhibit a pro-tumorigenic effect in the progression of endometrial cancer, and PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk signaling may represent critical regulators in how endometrial cancer cells respond to their microenvironment.
Cell-based therapy using autologous cells has been suggested as a potential approach for periodontal tissue regeneration. Spheroid systems are a form of three-dimensional cell culture that promotes cell matrix interaction, which could recapitulate the aspect of cell homeostasis in vivo. The aim of this study is to assess the interaction of periodontal fibroblast spheroids with synthetic and collagen-based membranes that have been used in guided tissue regeneration.
Nanozarah zink oksida telah disintesis menggunakan afrons gas koloid sebagai acuan. Zink sulfat (ZnSO4.7H2O) dan gas ammonia digunakan sebagi bahan tindak balas. Masa pengeraman yang dikaji adalah 2 jam dan 18 jam. Daripada analisis mikroskop elektron imbasan, morfologi nanohelaian dapat diperhatikan dengan ketebalan helaian 125 nm hingga 200 nm. Daripada analisis spektroskopi ultra lembayung-boleh nampak, saiz purata yang dianggarkan bagi sampel nanozarah zink oksida yang disintesis dengan masa pengeraman 2 jam adalah 2.03 nm dan 2.1 nm untuk sampel yang dieramkan selama 18 jam.
The biological examination of pulp injury, repair events and response of dental pulp stem cells to dental restorative materials is important to accomplish restorative treatment, especially to commonly used dental materials in paediatric dentistry, such as glass ionomer cement (GIC) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)) lining cement.
Wallerian degeneration is a complicated process whereby axons and myelin sheaths undergo degeneration, and eventually are phagocytosed by macrophages and Schwann cells following nerve damage. Schwann cells proliferate and the endoneural tubes persist. In addition, neurotrophins, neural cell adhesion molecules, cytokines and other soluble factors are upregulated to facilitate regeneration. The important role of cellular components, neurotrophins, and extracellular matrix components, including cell surface molecules involved in this regenerative process, is highlighted and discussed in this review.
Injury to a peripheral nerve leads to degeneration of the segment distal to the site of lesion, a process referred to as Wallerian degeneration. During Wallerian degeneration, axons and myelin sheaths undergo degeneration and are phagocytosed by macrophages and Schwann cells. The Schwann cells proliferate and the endoneurial tubes persist, together the whole structure is known as the band of Büngner. Within few hours, the damaged axons in the proximal stump initiate a regeneration response, with formation of new growth cones. During Wallerian degeneration, neurotrophins, neural cell adhesion molecules, cytokines and other soluble factors are upregulated to facilitate regeneration. The recovery of the target in mammals is often variable, but almost never complete. In humans, scar tissue forms at the site of lesion and this often results in poor recovery of the target. The major events underlying this regenerative process is highlighted and discussed in this review.
Bone formation is an active process whereby osteoblasts are found on the surface of the newly formed bone. Adhesion to extracellular matrix is essential for the development of bone however not all surfaces are suitable for osteoblast adhesion and don't support osteoblastic functions. The objective of this study was to test the suitability of a collagen based microcarrier which would support osteoblastic functions.
A 13 year old boy presented with a huge mass on his right arm of 6 months duration. Histopathological examination revealed sheets of malignant small round blue cells with immunopositivity for LCA, CD43, CD45Ro, CD30, EMA, ALK-1 and CD99, and negativity for CD20, TdT, myogenin, myoD1, NSE, bcl-6, bcl-2 and CD10. Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization (FISH) testing excluded the diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma/PNET. Pathologists need to be aware of the diagnosis of a small cell variant of ALCL, as well as of the fact that CD99 expression commonly occurs in cases of ALK-positive ALCL, in order to distinguish this entity from Ewing's sarcoma/PNET.
A 16-year-old student presented with a 4-week history of progressive shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and occasional blood-tinged sputum. The chest X-ray revealed massive right-sided pleural effusion with cardiomegaly. An echocardiogram revealed a large pericardial mass with massive pericardial effusion. Subsequent computed tomography of the thorax revealed a large heterogeneous mass in the right lung with extension into the pericardium. Lung biopsy revealed primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) with small round blue cells, Homer-Wright rosettes, and CD99 positivity. We discuss pericardial metastases of PNET and its implication in this patient.
Successful human reproduction remains an enigma, but this is slowly changing in the current era of expanding scientific knowledge. The discovery of various molecular factors such as adhesion molecules, proteases and cytokines have in recent years been at the forefront of medical research. The growing importance of immunology in particular has led to novel new immuno-modulatory therapies and increasing research into this new aspect of reproductive immunology may well prove to be the most important breakthrough in understanding the fundamentals of human reproduction. Implantation represents the first step in the complex interactions and processes involved in foetal-maternal interaction, which continues throughout pregnancy gestation and culminates in the birth of an infant. It is therefore vital that we understand the myriad processes controlling implantation in order to build a firm foundation for exploring reproductive immunology research in the new millennium. This review brings together and presents an overview of the potential roles of currently known molecular factors such as adhesion molecules, proteases, cytokines and its interaction with the maternal immune response, incorporating the findings of previous published research performed by the author on cytokines and reproductive immunology.