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Microsporum fulvum IBRL SD3: as novel isolate for chicken feathers degradation

Darah I, Nur-Diyana A, Nurul-Husna S, Jain K, Lim SH

Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2013 Dec;171(7):1900-10.
PMID: 24013862 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-013-0496-4

Keratinous wastes have increasingly become a problem and accumulate in the environment mainly in the form of feathers, generated mainly from a large number of poultry industries. As keratins are very difficult to degrade by general proteases, they pose a major environmental problem. Therefore, microorganisms which would effectively degrade keratins are needed for recycling such wastes. A geophilic dermatophyte, Microsporum fulvum IBRL SD3 which was isolated from a soil sample collected from a chicken feather dumping site using a baiting technique, was capable to produce keratinase significantly. The crude keratinase was able to degrade whole chicken feathers effectively. The end product of the degradation was protein that contained essential amino acids and may have potential application in animal feed production. Thus, M. fulvum could be a novel organism to produce keratinase for chicken feathers degradation.

Matched MeSH terms: Keratins/metabolism*
Fine-needle aspiration cytology of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Jayaram G, Swain M, Khanijow V, Jalaludin MA

Diagn Cytopathol, 1998 Sep;19(3):168-72.
PMID: 9740988 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0339(199809)19:3<168::aid-dc2>3

Over a 32-month period at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, we were able to study the cytological appearance of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in 17 cases. This comprised 14 males and three females of which 13 were Chinese, three were Malay, and one was Indian. Their ages ranged from 27 to 64 years. Histological correlation was available in all the patients in the form of nasopharyngeal biopsies, and they were classified as per the World Health Organization classification into types I, II, and III NPC. Smears from type II NPC showed good cellularity with mainly clustered and occasionally dissociated cells, with focal columnar appearance, vesicular nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and variable amounts of cytoplasm. Clusters of malignant cell closely associated with lymphoid cells and dissociation of malignant cells were more characteristic of type III NPC. FNA cytology is now applied extensively to the diagnosis of head and neck tumours and knowledge of the cytomorphology of NPC would greatly aid in pinpointing the primary of this tumour which is notorious for presenting with early nodal metastasis.

Matched MeSH terms: Keratins/metabolism
Loss of PTEN expression is associated with IGFBP2 expression, younger age, and late stage in triple-negative breast cancer

Dean SJ, Perks CM, Holly JM, Bhoo-Pathy N, Looi LM, Mohammed NA, et al.

Am J Clin Pathol, 2014 Mar;141(3):323-33.
PMID: 24515759 DOI: 10.1309/AJCPR11DEAYPTUSL

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between PTEN loss and IGFBP2 expression in a series of triple-negative breast cancers and to relate this expression to basal cytokeratin expression and clinicopathologic features.
METHODS: One hundred and one formalin-fixed and paraffin-processed triple-negative breast cancer cases from the University of Malaya Medical Centre were tested immunohistochemically for cytokeratins 5/6 and 14, PTEN, and IGFBP2. The resulting slides were scored for proportion and intensity of staining.
RESULTS: Loss of tumor nuclear and cytoplasmic staining for PTEN occurred in 48.3% of cases and was significantly associated with younger age at diagnosis (47 years compared with 57 years in those without PTEN loss; P = .005). Independent predictors of PTEN loss were late stage at presentation (P = .026), cytokeratin 5/6 positivity (P = .028), and IGFBP2 expression (P = .042). High levels of IGFBP2 expression were seen in 32% of cases; an independent predictor of high levels was cytokeratin 14 negativity (P = .005). PTEN loss and high levels of IGFBP2 expression were associated with poorer survival, but neither of these trends was significant.
CONCLUSIONS: PTEN loss is a frequent event in triple-negative breast cancers and is significantly associated with younger age at onset of breast cancer, late stage, and IGFBP2 expression.

Matched MeSH terms: Keratins/metabolism
Fulltext A High-Yield Two-Hour Protocol for Extraction of Human Hair Shaft Proteins

Wong SY, Lee CC, Ashrafzadeh A, Junit SM, Abrahim N, Hashim OH

PLoS One, 2016;11(10):e0164993.
PMID: 27741315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164993

Proteome analysis of the human hair remains challenging due to the poor solubility of hair proteins and the difficulty in their extraction. In the present study, we have developed a rapid extraction protocol for hair shaft protein using alkaline-based buffer. The new protocol accelerated the procedure by reducing the extraction time from at least a day to less than two hours and showed a protein recovery of 47.3 ± 3.72%. Further analyses of the extracted protein sample through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis unveiled a total of 60 proteins, including 25 that were not previously reported. Identification of these proteins is anticipated to be crucial in helping to understand the molecular basis of hair for potential applications in the future.

Matched MeSH terms: Keratins/metabolism
Fulltext Isolation and enhancement of a homogenous in vitro human Hertwig's epithelial root sheath cell population

Farea M, Halim AS, Abdullah NA, Lim CK, Mokhtar KI, Berahim Z, et al.

Int J Mol Sci, 2013;14(6):11157-70.
PMID: 23712356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms140611157

Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) cells play a pivotal role during root formation of the tooth and are able to form cementum-like tissue. The aim of the present study was to establish a HERS cell line for molecular and biochemical studies using a selective digestion method. Selective digestion was performed by the application of trypsin-EDTA for 2 min, which led to the detachment of fibroblast-like-cells, with the rounded cells attached to the culture plate. The HERS cells displayed a typical cuboidal/squamous-shaped appearance. Characterization of the HERS cells using immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry analysis showed that these cells expressed pan-cytokeratin, E-cadherin, and p63 as epithelial markers. Moreover, RT-PCR confirmed that these cells expressed epithelial-related genes, such as cytokeratin 14, E-cadherin, and ΔNp63. Additionally, HERS cells showed low expression of CD44 and CD105 with absence of CD34 and amelogenin expressions. In conclusion, HERS cells have been successfully isolated using a selective digestion method, thus enabling future studies on the roles of these cells in the formation of cementum-like tissue in vitro.

Matched MeSH terms: Keratins/metabolism
Fulltext NTCU induced pre-malignant and malignant stages of lung squamous cell carcinoma in mice model

Zakaria MA, Rajab NF, Chua EW, Selvarajah GT, Masre SF

Sci Rep, 2021 Nov 18;11(1):22500.
PMID: 34795360 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01988-8

Mice have served as an excellent model to understand the etiology of lung cancer for years. However, data regarding dual-stage carcinogenesis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remain elusive. Therefore, we aim to develop pre-malignant (PM) and malignant (M) lung SCC in vivo using N-nitroso-tris-chloroethylurea (NTCU). BALB/C mice were allotted into two main groups; PM and M groups which received treatment for 15 and 30 weeks, respectively. Then, the mice in each main group were allotted into three groups; control, vehicle, and cancer (n = 6), which received normal saline, 70% acetone, and 0.04 M NTCU by skin painting, respectively. Histopathologically, we discovered a mix of hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia lesions in the PM group and intracellular bridge; an SCC feature in the M group. The M group was positive for cytokeratin 5/6 protein which confirmed the lung SCC subtype. We also found significantly higher (P

Matched MeSH terms: Keratins/metabolism