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Gillespie JW, Nasir A, Kaiser HE. Loss of heterozygosity in papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma: a mini review. In Vivo 2000; 14:139-40. [PMID: 10757070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes is an important mechanism in the development of most cancers. This can be detected by determining loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on highly polymorphic loci on chromosomes. Many investigations to determine LOH in papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma have been performed using bulk tissue which was fresh, snap frozen, or has been formalin-fixed/paraffin-embedded. Loss of heterozygosity is more frequently encountered in follicular than papillary carcinoma. Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) may be useful to ascertain if there is a pattern of LOH for various histologic forms and variants of thyroid carcinoma.
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Groeger AM, Caputi M, Esposito V, De Luca A, Bagella L, Pacilio C, Klepetko W, Giordano GG, Baldi F, Kaiser HE, Wolner E, Giordano A. Independent prognostic role of p16 expression in lung cancer. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999; 118:529-35. [PMID: 10469971 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-5223(99)70192-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The cyclin-dependent kinase p16 (also known as Ink4A, Mts1, Cdkn2, and Cdkn4i) has been proposed as a tumor suppressor gene mapped on chromosome segment 9p21. This study evaluated p16 protein expression in 135 lung cancer specimens and investigated potential genetic alterations occurring in this gene. RESULTS We found altered p16 immunohistochemical expression to be a frequent event in lung cancer and to be independent of either the histologic type or any other clinical-pathologic feature. Western blot analyses performed on about one third of the specimens correlated highly with these results. In addition, we found p16 immunohistochemical expression to be a favorable prognostic factor in lung cancer in that its reduction or loss correlated with a worse outcome for the patients. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing of p16 exons 1 and 2 revealed no mutations, indicating that p16-altered expression in lung cancer is not necessarily linked to mutational events of these genes. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that p16-altered expression is both an independent and frequent event in lung cancer and may have an important role in tumorigenesis and in malignant progression of a significant proportion of these cancers. However, the actual incidence and relevance of p16 mutations in this neoplasm continues to be debated, and its analysis seems inconclusive. Our results suggest a prognostic role for the immunodetection of this protein on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens. They further suggest its routine use in the evaluation of the frequently unpredictable behavior of lung cancer.
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Fas (APO-1, CD95) receptor expression and new options for immunotherapy in childhood medulloblastomas. Anticancer Res 1999; 19:3293-314. [PMID: 10652626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid neoplasms in children. Medulloblastomas (MEDs) resemble embryonic neuroectodermal stem cells and their immature, uncommitted neuronal and glial progeny. Apoptosis is a basic physiological process wherein the cell initiates a sequence of events culminating in the fragmentation of its DNA, nuclear collapse, and finally, disintegration of the cell into small, membrane-bound apoptotic bodies. Expression of Fas (APO-1, CD95) receptor (FasR) and programmed or active cell death (PCD) was studied in childhood MEDs with varying stages of malignancy, and cell differentiation features. The majority of neoplastically transformed, neuroectodermal in origin cells, particularly in MEDs, express FasR, whereas normal cells in the CNS do not. FasR is a transmembrane glycoprotein, which belongs to the nerve growth factor/tumor necrosis factor (NGF/TNF) receptor superfamily. Apoptosis within childhood PNETs/MEDs is triggered by the binding of FasR to its natural ligand (FasL) or by cross-linking with anti-section i FasR antibodies. The resence of FasL has also been detected in childhood glial tumors. Therefore, a spontaneous, cellular immunophenotype (IP) regulatory, intratumoral apoptotic cell death (autocrine suicide) is possible in childhood brain tumors during neoplastic growth and progression. During our systematic immunocytochemical screening, we employed formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded tissue sections, as well as frozen sections of 34 primary human childhood PNETs/MEDs. The use of a sensitive, indirect, six step immunoperoxidase or alkaline phosphatase conjugated streptavidin-biotin antigen detection technique, modified by us, provided excellent immunocyto-chemical results. A systematic observation of the presence of apoptosis related markers (especially FasR) and cells in PCD was carried out. A strong expression (intensity of staining: "A"-the highest possible; number of stained neoplastic cells: +3 to +4, between 50% to 90%) of FasR, was detected employing 4 microns thick, formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded tissue slides. The panel of normal tissues employed as positive and negative tissue controls demonstrated presence of FasR in the prenatal thymus, mature tonsils and colon epithelium. Certainly, the coexpression of FasR, FasL, and other PCD-related proteins have also been reported in other human malignancies: breast cancer, colorectal carcinomas, large granular lymphocytic leukemia of T or NK cell origin, melanomas, lung, prostate, pancreas, and hepatocellular carcinomas. The coexpression of both FasR and FasL on several neoplastic cell types may represent an effective mechanism for tumor escape of the cellular immunological response of the host. It has been well established that brain tumors and melanomas produce their autocrine FasL, and even become capable of switching their signal transduction from the PCD pathway to a tumor growth, proliferative pathway. It seems that the therapeutical use of FasR-FasL (main apoptotic pathway) represents a new and exciting immunotherapeutical possibility in the treatment of primary childhood neuroectodermal tumors.
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Immunophenotypical analysis and immunobiology of childhood brain tumors. Anticancer Res 1999; 19:2973-92. [PMID: 10652582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer associated markers (CAMs) are the biochemical and immunological counterparts of the morphology of neoplasms. The expression of an immunocytochemically defined CAM is related to the tissue of origin and is not a random event. During the past two decades, the use of MoABs against oncofetal, neoplasm associated, cell lineage specific, endothelial, and cell proliferation related antigens in the diagnosis and biological assessment of prognosis in neoplastic disease gained increased importance. A sensitive direct correlation exists between the expression of certain molecules and the development of an invasive, highly malignant immunophenotype (IP) of neoplastic cells, allowing for the occurrence of angiogenesis and metastasis. Our systematic and detailed cellular IP analyses of 82 childhood brain tumors [34 medulloblastomas (MEDs)/primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs), 42 astrocytomas (ASTRs), 5 choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) and 1 choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC)], was conducted using over 55 MoABs. An indirect, four-step, enzyme linked [alkaline phosphatase (AP) and peroxidase (PO)], biotin-streptavidin based, antigen detection technique was employed. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Fas (Apo-1, CD95) receptor expression in childhood astrocytomas. Is it a marker of the major apoptotic pathway or a signaling receptor for immune escape of neoplastic cells? In Vivo 1999; 13:357-73. [PMID: 10586378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis is a physiological process wherein the cell initiates a sequence of events culminating in the fragmentation of its DNA, nuclear collapse, and finally disintegration of the cell into small, membrane-bound apoptotic bodies. Expression of Fas (APO-1, CD95) Receptor (FasR) and programmed or active cell (PCD) death was studied in childhood astrocytomas (ASTRs) with varying stages of malignancy, including pilocytic ASTR, low grade ASTR, anaplastic ASTR, and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The great majority of childhood glial tumors, particularly ASTRs express FasR whereas normal cells in the central nervous system (CNS) do not. FasR represents a transmembrane glycoprotein which belongs to the nerve growth factor/tumor necrosis factor (NGF/TNF) receptor superfamily. Apoptosis within ASTRs is triggered by the binding of FasR to its natural ligand (FasL) or by cross-linking with antibodies developed against FasR. Presence of FasL was also detected in childhood glial tumors. The expression of both FasR and FasL was also observed within the same ASTRs. Therefore, spontaneous, IP regulatory, intratumoral apoptotic cell death (autocrine suicide) is possible in childhood glial tumors. During a systematic, immunocytochemical screening of 42 childhood ASTRs tissues divided according to WHO classification: 6 WHO grade I or pilocytic ASTRs; 14 WHO grade II or low grade ASTRs; 16 WHO grade III or anaplastic ASTRs and 6 WHO grade IV or glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), we detected strong expression (intensity of staining: "A"--the highest possible; number of stained cells: +2 to +4, between 20% to 90%) of FasR, employing 4 microns thick, formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded tissue slides. FasR was present on 70% to 90% of tumor cells in pilocytic ASTRs, in 50% to 60% of the tumor cells in low grade ASTRs, in between 30% and 40% of the tumor cells in anaplastic ASTRs, and in between 20% to 35% of GBM cells. The panel of normal tissues employed as positive and negative tissue controls demonstrated presence of FasR in the prenatal thymus, mature tonsils and colonic epithelium. The use of a sensitive, indirect, six step immunoperoxidase or alkaline phosphatase conjugated streptavidin-biotin antigen detection technique provided excellent immunocytochemical results. A broad spectrum of neoplastic cells have been identified to express FasR: 1) carcinomas of epithelial origin, such as breast (ductal invasive, lobular invasive, mucinous), renal cell, gastric, colorectal, endometrial, prostate, pancreas, hepatocellular and large cell and squamous cell lung carcinomas: 2) non-epithelial neoplasms such as B cell mediastinal B cell and nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas large granular lymphocytic leukemia of T or NK cell origin malignant fibrous histiocytoma, malignant mesothelioma, leiomyosarcoma, epitheloid sarcoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma, as well as melanomas. Flow cytometry studies have also detected FasR expression on cells of adult T cell, and hairy cell leukemias, as well as in chronic B cell lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL). The coexpression of both FasR and FasL on several malignant cell types may represent an effective mechanism of tumor escape from the cellular immunological response of the host. It has been well established that brain tumors and melanomas produce their autocrine FasL, and even become capable of switching the signal transduction associated with FasL-FasR coupling from the PCD pathway to a tumor growth, proliferative pathway. It seems that the therapeutical use of FasR-FasL (main apoptotic pathway) may represent a new and exciting type of immunotherapy in the treatment of primary childhood glial tumors.
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Krohn-Grimberghe B, Kurzeja R, Wagner J, Kaiser HE. Pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma with chondropathia tuberosa; a case report and review. Anticancer Res 1999; 19:2221-8. [PMID: 10472334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Pleomorphic T-cell-lymphoma (anaplastic IgA-plasma cell tumor) belongs to the group of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). The histological and immunophenotypical subtypes differ with genetic and environmental etiologic factors. Lymphomas arise from the clonal proliferation of precursor cells within lymphoid organs with acquired chromosomal abnormalities. Approximately 5% of all primary malignant bone tumors are NHL, the majority of diffuse large B-cell type. Our case history can be regarded as the first published in English language reporting on a pleomorphic T-cell-lymphoma imitating a Chondropathia tuberosa (Tietze's syndrome): The tumor appeared with a tender tumescence over the sternum and a painful swollen left sterno-clavicular joint--as a rule a typical sign for Tietze's syndrome. Only sternal puncture followed by immune histology confirmed an anaplastic IgA-plasma cell tumor. The primary tumor, and later on an osteolysis of cervical vertebrae I-III with a complete destruction of the axis and an affection of the dens atlantis could not be detected by radiographic examinations. Moreover, this tumor infestation could only be depicted by the magnet resonance imaging and the computed tomography. Furthermore, other results of our report are the very rare manifestation of a T-cell lymphoma as a pedicled tumor near the pancreas or of pancreatic origin and the excellent result of an autologous stem cell transplantation. Reviewing the literature, we want to discuss the present scientific and clinical standards of diagnosis, progress and treatment of Chondropathia tuberosa and T-cell lymphoma, and we want to point out some new aspects of both diseases.
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Molecular biological ontogenesis of the thymic reticulo-epithelial cell network during the organization of the cellular microenvironment. In Vivo 1999; 13:267-94. [PMID: 10459506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
The thymus provides an optimal humoral microenvironment for the development of immunocompetent T cells. Although yolk sac derived pre-T, committed hematopoietic stem cells enter the thymus using a homing receptor, the immigration process also requires secretion of a peptide called thymotaxin by the cells of the reticulo-epithelial (RE) network of the thymic cellular microenvironment. The majority of RE cells have a round or irregular pale nucleus, which contains few, scattered, chromatin granules with a defined, spherical nucleolus, rich in basic histones. Their cytoplasm occasionally displays RNP granules, and is rich in non-histone proteins, fine phospholipid, lipid or cholesterin granules, and vacuoles filled with secreted substances. The cells of the subcapsular, endocrine RE cell layer (giant or nurse cells), characterized by PAS positive granules, express A2B5/TE4 cell surface antigens and MHC Class I (HLA A, B, C) molecules. In contrast to medullar RE cells, these subcapsular nurse cells also produce thymosins beta 3 beta 4. Thymic nurse cells (TNCs) display a neuroendocrine cell specific immunophenotype (IP): Thy-1+, A2B5+, TT+, TE4+, UJ13/A+, UJ127.11+, UJ167.11+, UJ181.4+, and presence of common leukocyte antigen (CLA+). Medullar RE cells display MHC Class II (HLA-DP, HLA-DQ, HLA-DR) molecule restriction. These cells also contain transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type II receptors and participate in the positive selection of T cells. Transmission electron-microscopic (TEM) observations have defined four functional subtypes of medullar RE cells: undifferentiated, squamous, villous, and cystic. All subtypes are connected by desmosomes. Immunocytochemical observations have shown that the secreted thymic hormones, thymosin alpha 1 and thymopoietin (and its short form, thymopentin or TP5), are produced by the same RE cells. Thymic RE cells also produce numerous cytokines including IL1, IL6, G-CSF, M-CSF, and GM-CSF that likely are important in various stages of thymocyte activation and differentiation. The co-existence of pituitary hormone and neuropeptide secretion, such as growth hormone, prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, somatostatin, oxytocin, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, arginine vasopressin, growth hormone releasing hormone, corticotropin releasing hormone, nerve growth factor, vasoactive intestinal peptide, (pro) enkephalin, and beta-endorphin, production of a number of interleukins and growth factors, as well as the expression of receptors for all, by the same RE cell is an unique molecular biological phenomenon. These data illustrate the immensely important and diverse immuno-neuroendocrine functions of the thymic RE cellular network. Based on our systematic observations of the thymus in humans and other mammalian species, we suggest that the thymic RE cell network represents an extremely important cellular and humoral microenvironment in homeopathic regulatory mechanisms of the multicellular organism. Intrathymic T lymphocyte selection is a complex, multistep process, influenced by several functionally specialized RE cell subtypes and under constant immuno-neuroendocrine regulation, reflecting the dynamic changes of the organism.
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Nasir A, Budhrani SS, Hafner GH, Sidawy MK, Kaiser HE. Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen associated with a cavernous hemangioma diagnosed at intra-operative cytology: report of a case and review of literature. In Vivo 1999; 13:87-92. [PMID: 10218139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
This report presents a case of a 40 year old Caucasian female with a 15 cm inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) of the spleen with associated areas of splenic hemangioma of the cavernous type. Abdominal CT showed a largely fatty splenic mass with enhancing septations, and scattered calcifications, and a small density in the liver. Grossly, the splenic lesion showed a lobulated cut surface with areas of myxoid change, necrosis, hemorrhage and cystic softening. The diagnosis of IPT was suggested at intraoperative consultation using cytologic smears and was, subsequently confirmed on permanent sections. Histologically, the lesion consisted of a densely collagenized spindle cell stroma with patchy aggregates of lymphocytes and plasma cells, and scattered foci showing hemosiderin-laden macrophages extracellular calcium deposits and osseous metaplasia. The stromal spindle cells were immuoreactive for smooth muscle actin and vimentin confirming their myofibroblastic phenotype. There were extensive areas of infarction within the mass. The patient, however, remained asymptomatic preoperatively. Histologic analysis in this case raises the possibility that low grade, perhaps repetitive, trauma to the hemangioma may have resulted in intralesional hemorrhages which, through a process of organization, may have evolved into this sizable inflammatory pseudotumor. In addition, this report reviews the current literature on the clinical significance and presentation, morphologic and immunohistochemical findings, prognosis, differential diagnosis, pathogenesis and therapy of the splenic IPT.
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Kaiser HE. Aging and neoplastic progression. In Vivo 1998; 12:691-3. [PMID: 9891233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Aging is the gradual development of individuals of a particular species in time. Interspecies comparison shows the variability of the aging processes in ontogeny which is species-specifically fixed. e.g. a mouse will never be able to reach the life expectancy of a blue whale or man. Certain changes of the life span have been observed in aging human populations, on an individual basis, or in zoo animals under the care of veterinarians. Cells of different tissues exhibit a varying senescence additionally influenced by concomitant diseases. The age spectrum of neoplasms cannot be simplified. It is misleading to state that neoplasms are diseases of the elderly because this is the case only in certain, very common neoplastic diseases, such as colon cancers, but not regarding pediatric neoplasms as retinoblastoma, nephroblastoma, or Ewing sarcoma, and osteosarcoma in the young. This paper evaluates the diversified age changes in the development of selected neoplastic diseases.
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. The role of zinc in pre- and postnatal mammalian thymic immunohistogenesis. In Vivo 1998; 12:695-722. [PMID: 9891234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian thymic histogenesis can be morphologically divided into three consecutive stages: a) epithelial, b) lymphopoietic or lympho-epithelial, and 3) differentiated cellular microenvironmental, with formation of Hassall's bodies (HBs). Immunomorphological changes characteristic of human thymic involution begin during or soon after the first year after birth, and continue progressively throughout the entire life span. The 3% to 5% annual reduction in the number of cells of the human thymic microenvironment continues until middle age, when it slows down to less than 1% per year. According to the extrapolation of these results, total loss of thymic reticulo-epithelial (RE) tissue and the associated thymocytes should occur at the age of 120 years in humans. The marked reduction of the thymic cellular microenvironment is a well- controlled physiological process and is presumably under both local and global regulation by the cells of the RE meshwork and by the neuroendocrine axis, respectively. In humans, the age related decline of facteur thymique serique (FTS) levels in blood begins after 20 years of age and FTS completely disappears between the 5th and 6th decade of life. In contrast, serum levels of thymosin-alpha 1 and thymopoietin seem to decline earlier, starting as early as 10 years of age. The influences of a variety of other hormones on the involution of the thymus have also been characterized: testosterone, estrogen, and hydrocortisone treatment results in marked involution, cortisone and progesterone administration have a slight to moderate effect while use of desoxycorticosterone has no effect. The experimental administration of thyroxin yielded dose dependent results: low doses resulted in thymic hypertrophy, higher doses produced a slight hypertrophy, while the highest employed doses caused thymic atrophy. The atrophy was of apicnotic type, very different from that detected after treatment with corticoid hormones. Thymus transplantation experiments indicate that age-related, physiological thymic involution has been genetically preprogrammed. Grafting of the thymus from one week old C3H leukemic strain mice into 6 month old hosts resulted in changes in thymic weight and involution patterns that were synchronous in all recipients, in direct correlation with the glands in the donor, but not in the host. These data strongly suggest that the stimulus for thymus cell proliferation and differentiation is genetically determined within the organ implant. Since the thymus is the primary T-lymphopoietic organ during mammalian ontogenesis, its age-related involution with typical immunomorphological alterations can be held responsible only for the decline in antigen-specific T lymphocyte immune functions. Thymic involution and diminished T lymphocyte proliferation can be partially restored by thymic tissue transplantation or use of thymic hormones. The only partial reconstitution of CD4+ T helper lymphocyte subset after antineoplastic chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation represents a significant, therapy complicating, clinical problem. After high-dose chemotherapy, restoration of thymus dependent CD4+ T lymphocyte genesis was reported only in children. Our radiation, stem cell transplantation, and hormone treatment experiments in animals strongly suggest age and time dependent regeneration of the cytoarchitecture of the thymic cellular microenvironment, as well as intrathymic lymphopoiesis. The human body's zinc pool undergoes progressive reduction, resulting in low zinc plasma levels and a negative crude zinc balance in older rodents, as well as humans. Previous research suggests that the diminished bioavailability of zinc in older mammals may represent one of the major factors for the involution of the thymus and consequent cellular immunological dysfunction. In PBMCs, zinc induces several cytokines, predominantly IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and therefore, has an immense immunoregulative capacity. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Intrathymic non-lymphatic hematopoiesis during mammalian ontogenesis. In Vivo 1998; 12:599-618. [PMID: 9891223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Histogenetically, the thymus is the primary lymphopoietic organ and provides an optimal microenvironment for the differentiation of T lymphocytes, independently of the influence of foreign antigens. Lymphocytes with diverse potential are produced in a protective microenvironment optimal for their maturation, whose dual cellular network is provided by endodermally derived RE cells and numerous ectomesenchymal cells derived from the neural crest. The full development of intrathymic hematopoiesis depends upon the successful completion of a series of well coordinated cellular interactions between widely divergent (in terms of origin) cells [epithelium (primitive pharynx); ectomesenchyrne (neural crest); and PHSCs (yolk sac, fetal liver)]. The cells of the thymic epithelial primordium do not proliferate in the absence of "inductive" interactions with the ectomesenchyme. Moreover, the nature of the mesenchyme determines the behavior of the thymic epithelial anlagen. The ectomesenchymal origin of chemotactic stem cell factor secretion, responsible for hemopoietic stem cell immigration, is a distinct possibility. The human thymus is a generalized hematopoietic tissue with between 7 to 9 weeks of ontogenesis. In human and dog fetuses various elements of mammalian hematopoiesis were identified intrathymically: B lymphocytes, plasma cells, erythropoietic and granulocytopoietic (neutrophils and eosinophils) cells, antigen presenting dendritic cells, and mast cells. Our light and ultrastructural (transmission and scanning), as well as immunocytochemical observations have established that during the embryonal and fetal period, the thymus is seeded by pluripotent, yolk sac derived PHSCs characterized by the following immunophenotype CD34+CD43+CD38-Lin-HLA-DR+CD69+. Stem cell c-kit tyrosine kinase (also referred to as mast cell growth factor, stem cell factor, or steel factor) in combination with autocrine and paracrine growth factors and cytokines (IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, G-CSF, etc.) stimulates myelopoiesis, including erythropoiesis, as well as lymphopoiesis. These hematopoietic growth factors are produced by activated lymphoblastic cells and stromal RE cells under the influence of immunoneuroendocrine regulation, supported by the finding that experimental or spontaneous, in vivo neural crest ablation during early mammalian ontogenesis always results in an abnormal development of the thymus, as well as the heart and great vessels, thyroid, and parathyroid glands.
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Kaiser HE, Koehler G. Guidelines for the development of comparative pathology. In Vivo 1998; 12:639-42. [PMID: 9891227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of comparative pathology is to develop a fuller understanding of pathologic processes in individuals of various species. Historically, we distinguish between direct and indirect findings. Direct sources are paleopathologic fossils. Indirect findings are historic and/or religious descriptions of epidemics. The philosophy behind the comparative approach depends primarily on the individuals of the species as units. The individual represents a concrete reality, whereas the other taxonomic categories are only theoretical entities contrived by human thought. Intraspecies-specific comparison and the interspecies-specific comparison are distinguishable. In intraspecies-specific comparison different individuals (races, breeds) of one species are compared, whereas in the interspecies-specific comparison individuals of several species are compared. Evolution and the comparative ontogenetic development of recent organisms explains how the variability of species came into existence. Consistency in evolution and uniformity is given by the fact that members of all phyla are still represented by some remaining species. Heterogeneity of organismic structures are more numerous but secondary. With the exception of the virus, the cell is remaining the unit of living matter, but viruses depend on cells for their existence. The majority of species, the eumetazoans and vascular plants, are built of true tissues developed by cell division, whereas higher fungi and some algae exhibit plectenchymata which develop by the fusion of cells. This short article presents some thoughts and principles underlining the importance of development of guideline for the study of comparative pathology.
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Korabiowska M, Brinck U, Frye FL, Harshbarger JC, Droese M, Kaiser HE. Expression of growth arrest and DNA damage genes and DNA mismatch repair genes in snake melanomas. In Vivo 1998; 12:539-42. [PMID: 9827364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Snake melanomas are rare tumours and their pathogenesis is still unclear. In this study the expression of DNA mismatch repair genes and Growth Arrest DNA Damage Genes was investigated. The expression only of 3 of them GADD34, MLH1 and MSH2 was found. The role of these genes in animal tumorigenesis is discussed.
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Over-expression of endoglin (CD105): a marker of breast carcinoma-induced neo-vascularization. Anticancer Res 1998; 18:3621-8. [PMID: 9858949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The commencement of the complex process of carcinogenesis, and subsequent, rapid tumor growth and progression of mammalian neoplasms, including breast carcinomas (BCs), depends upon the continuous de novo formation of capillaries [i.e. neovascularization (NV)/neoplasm-related angiogenesis (NRA)]. The generation of a malignant, invasive cellular immunophenotype (CIP) and distant metastases, as aspects of tumor progression, are also NRA-dependent processes. Endothelial cells undergo rapid proliferation during mammary carcinoma-related angiogenesis. Human endoglin (CD105/EDG), is a homodimeric cell surface component of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type I receptor complex and is also a proliferation-associated antigen (PM) expressed at high density on endothelial cells. Formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded, tissue sections (3-5 microns thick) of 15 BCs were employed for the assessment of EDG expression. An indirect, four-step, alkaline phosphatase (AP) (or diamino-benzidine [DAB]) conjugated, biotin-streptavidin based, antigen detection technique, employing the SN6h anti-EDG monoclonal antibody was conducted. Zymed's Histogold System was also utilized for immunocytological antigen detection. Strong expression (A; ++ + to ++ ++) of EDG on endothelial cells was demonstrated in all 15 BC cases. The most striking feature of the newly formed neoplasm-related capillaries was the presence of an enlarged perivascular space. Blood vessels in several normal human tissues (cortex, cerebellum, thymus, tonsil, spleen, lymph node, skin) used as control tissues contained significantly lower levels of EDG (B and mostly C; +/- to +), in accordance with the extremely slow turnover rate of normal endothelial cells. Furthermore, a close apposition between the capillaries and the adjacent parenchyma was observed in these normal controls. BCs, as most mammalian neoplasms, are characterized by extensive neovascularization and thus are candidates for anti-angiogenic therapy. Further studies should substantiate the importance of EDG expression in the earliest possible detection, diagnosis and NRA inhibition-based treatment of solid tumors, including BCs.
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Immunocytochemical detection of endoglin is indicative of angiogenesis in malignant melanoma. Anticancer Res 1998; 18:2701-10. [PMID: 9703932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The commencement of the complex process of carcinogenesis, and subsequent, rapid tumor growth and progression of mammalian neoplasms, including malignant melanomas, depends upon the continuous de novo formation of capillaries [i.e. neovascularization (NV)/neoplasm-related angiogenesis (NRA)]. The generation of a dedifferentiated, malignant, highly invasive cellular immunophenotype (CIP) and distant metastases, as aspects of constant neoplastic progression, are also NRA-dependent processes. Endothelial cells undergo rapid proliferation during malignant melanoma (MM) related angiogenesis. Human endoglin (CD105/EDG), is a homodimeric cell surface component of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type I receptor complex and is also a proliferation-associated antigen (PAA) expressed at high density on endothelial cells. Formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded, tissue sections (3-5 microns thick) of 25 MMs were employed for the assessment of EDG expression. An indirect, four-step, alkaline phosphatase (AP) (or diamino-benzidine [DAB]) conjugated, biotin-streptavidin based, antigen detection technique, employing the SN6h anti-EDG monoclonal antibody was conducted. Zymed's Histogold System was also utilized for immunocytological antigen detection. Strong expression (A; +3 to +4) of EDG on endothelial cells was demonstrated in all MM cases. The most striking feature of the newly formed neoplasm-related capillaries was the presence of an enlarged perivascular space. Blood vessels in several normal human tissues (cortex, cerebellum, thymus, tonsil, spleen, lymph node, skin) used as control tissues contained significantly lower levels of EDG (B and mostly C; +/- to +), in accordance with the extremely slow turnover rate of normal endothelial cells. Furthermore, a close apposition between the capillaries and the adjacent parenchyma was observed in these normal controls. MMs, like most mammalian neoplasms, are characterized by extensive neovascularization, and thus are candidates for anti-angiogenic therapy. Further studies should substantiate the importance of EDG expression in the earliest possible detection, diagnosis and NRA inhibition-based treatment of solid tumors, including MMs. The importance of TGF-beta in all of the various aspects of neoplastic transformation, as well as malignant disease progression should also be studied more extensively in the future.
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Upregulation of endoglin (CD105) expression during childhood brain tumor-related angiogenesis. Anti-angiogenic therapy. Anticancer Res 1998; 18:1485-500. [PMID: 9673360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
During postnatal development, the formation of new blood vessels is possible only through angiogenesis. The initial growth of solid neoplasms, including childhood brain tumors, during the genetically determined stages of carcinogenesis, even at clinically undetectable sizes (a few mm3), depends upon the continuous formation of new blood capillaries [i.e. neovascularization (NV)/neoplasm-related angiogenesis (NRA)]. The generation of a malignant, invasive cellular immunophenotype (CIP) and distant metastases are also NRA-dependent processes. Endothelial cells undergo rapid proliferation during brain tumor related angiogenesis. Human endoglin (CD105/EDG), is a homodimeric cell surface component of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type I receptor complex and is also a proliferation-associated antigen (PAA) expressed at high density on endothelial cells. Formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded (3-5 microns thick), as well as frozen tissue sections (6 microns thick) of 62 childhood brain tumors [34 medulloblastomas (MEDs) and 28 astrocytomas (ASTRs)], were employed for the assessment of EDG expression. Both an indirect, four-step, alkaline phosphatase (AP) conjugated, biotin-streptavidin based (or a diamino-benzidine [DAB]) conjugated immunoperoxidase antigen detection technique were employed, utilizing the SN6h anti-EDG monoclonal antibody (DAKO Corp.). Another antigen detection method, based on the Histogold (Zymed) reaction was also employed using the same antibody on formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded tissues. Strong expression (A; +3 to +4) of EDG on endothelial cells and demonstrated in all 62 childhood brain tumor cases. The most striking feature of the newly formed tumor-related capillaries was the presence of a markedly enlarged perivascular space. Blood vessels in several normal human tissues (cortex, cerebellum, thymus, tonsil, spleen, lymph node, skin) used as control tissues contained significantly lower levels of EDG (B and mostly C; +/- to +), in accordance with the extremely slow turnover rate of normal endothelial cells. A close apposition between the capillaries and the adjacent parenchyma was also observed. Brain tumors, especially glioblastoma, are among the most vascularized human neoplasms, and thus are candidates for antiangiogenic therapy. VEGF/PF-R1 (flt-1) and VEGF/PF-R2 (flk-1) are formed de novo in a glioma progression-dependent manner. Further studies should substantiate the importance of EDG in the earliest possible detection, diagnosis and NRA inhibition-based treatment of mammalian solid neoplasms, especially childhood brain tumors.
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MESH Headings
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Antigens, CD
- Astrocytoma/blood supply
- Astrocytoma/metabolism
- Astrocytoma/pathology
- Brain Neoplasms/blood supply
- Brain Neoplasms/metabolism
- Brain Neoplasms/pathology
- Child
- Dimerization
- Endoglin
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Medulloblastoma/blood supply
- Medulloblastoma/metabolism
- Medulloblastoma/pathology
- Neoplasm Invasiveness
- Neoplasm Staging
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/pathology
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/prevention & control
- Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive/blood supply
- Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive/metabolism
- Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive/pathology
- Receptors, Cell Surface
- Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/analysis
- Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/biosynthesis
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. The spontaneous regression of neoplasms in mammals: possible mechanisms and their application in immunotherapy. In Vivo 1998; 12:107-22. [PMID: 9575433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In mammalian cells, neoplastic transformation is directly associated with the expression of oncogenes, with the mutation, loss or simple inactivation of the function of tumor suppressor genes, and the production of certain growth factors. Genes for suppression of the development of the malignant immunophenotype, as well as inhibitory growth factors have regulatory functions within the normal processes of cell division and differentiation. Telomerase (a ribonucleoprotein polymerase) activation is frequently observed in various cancers. Telomerase activation is regarded as essential for cell immortalization and its inhibition may result in the spontaneous regression (SR) of neoplasms. SR of neoplasms occurs when the malignant tumor mass partially or completely disappears without any treatment or as a result of a therapy considered inadequate to influence systemic neoplastic disease. This definition makes it clear that the term SR applies to neoplasms in which the malignant disease is not necessarily cured, and to cases where the regression may be neither complete nor permanent. A number of possible mechanisms of SR are reviewed, with the understanding that no single mechanism can completely account for this phenomenon. The application of the newest immunological, molecular biological and genetic insights for more individualized anticancer immunotherapy (biotherapy) is also discussed.
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Romano G, Claudio PP, Kaiser HE, Giordano A. Recent advances, prospects and problems in designing new strategies for oligonucleotide and gene delivery in therapy. In Vivo 1998; 12:59-67. [PMID: 9575427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The field of gene therapy has been in rapid expansion since the first submissions of gene therapy trials in the early 1990s which provided encouraging results. Since then, many gene therapy protocols have been approved for phase I clinical trials for the treatment of inherited genetic diseases and cancer. The possibility of employing gene transfer technology to treat AIDS and neurologic diseases is currently under evaluation. Many gene delivery systems have been developed for in vivo studies and therapy. The efficiency of in vivo gene transfer, however, still needs to be optimized, even though significant advances have recently been achieved in improving gene delivery, gene regulation and avoidance of immune responses. This review provides a general outline focusing on the description of the most common gene delivery systems and on their current applications in therapeutics.
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Kaiser HE. Apoptosis in the mammalian thymus during normal histogenesis and under various in vitro and in vivo experimental conditions. In Vivo 1998; 12:123-33. [PMID: 9575434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Programmed cell death (PCD), also known as apoptosis, is a genetically controlled cellular response, manifested in morphologically distinct non-necrotic cellular destruction: cell shrinkage, cytoplasmic "boiling", condensation of chromatin, loss of nuclear membrane followed by DNA fragmentation and cell membrane blebbing, all of which initiate the formation of apoptotic bodies. During the early stages of PCD, cell membrane phospholipid asymmetry is altered, resulting in the dislocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) to the cell surface. During apoptosis, DNA is cut by endonucleases at DNA-linked sites between nucleosomes, producing a number of multimers of nucleosomal DNA units in the cell nuclei. The mechanism of apoptosis and the cellular signals involved in its induction have been studied during thymic prenatal ontogenesis and postnatal development, mainly in immature thymocytes and in the cells of the reticulo-epithelial (RE) network. In thymocytes or resting T lymphocytes, p53 tumor suppressor protein was identified to be a critical mediator of apoptosis in response to DNA damage. The cellular interaction of immature, cortical thymocytes (characterized by a double positive CD4+CD8+TCRlow immunophenotype) with thymic RE cells induces positive selection of T lymphocytes that recognize, but are not activated by self-MHC molecules (tolerance induction). Double positive CD4+CD8+CD3- thymocytes undergo Fas-mediated apoptosis, while CD4+CD8+CD3+ cells use the CD3 mediated pathway of PCD. Two step, apoptotic cell death is mainly restricted to the CD4+CD8+TCRdull thymocyte subpopulation. T-lymphocytes which do not undergo positive selection are killed by apoptosis in response to a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as chemical toxins, viral infections, X- and UV irradiation, mild hyperthermia, the actions of various hormones, extracellular survival factors, calcium ionophores (such as A23187), various chemotherapeutic drugs (adriamycin, actinomycin D, etc) and antibodies directed to the CD3-TCR (T cell receptor) complex. Immature thymocytes also undergo a second selective process, so-called negative selection, when thymic stromal cells eliminate autoreactive T lymphocytes. This process has been termed clonal deletion and also involves apoptosis. In addition to the two intrathymic T lymphocyte selection mechanisms, Immunocompetent, but autoreactive T lymphocytes which have already reached the periphery are also eliminated by apoptosis. All the divers stimuli of PCD are associated with an increase in the concentration of cytosolic calcium ions (Ca+2), which activate an endogenous endonuclease. This trigger for PCD results in rapid cleavage of DNA, a hallmark of apoptosis. Despite the diversity of the signals that can trigger apoptosis, the changes in cellular morphology characteristic of PCD are very similar. The uniformity of the morphological changes suggests the existence of a predetermined, final and common cell suicide pathway. Apoptosis requires energy in the form of ATP, indicating that PCD, as opposed to necrosis, is an energy dependent, active physiological and pathophysiological phenomenon.
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Kaiser HE, Nasir A, Groger AM, Link CJ. The etiology of second primary neoplasms. In Vivo 1998; 12:89-93. [PMID: 9575431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neoplasms are derived from normal tissues of the body by cellular transformation. Tumors often represent a less differentiated or an undifferentiated version of the histology of the neoplasms original tissue. Primary tumor(s) may spread by direct extension or by metastasis. For the purpose of this review, second primary tumors will be defined to exclude metastatic lesions or recurrences from an original primary tumor. Second primary tumors arise in several different clinical situations that basically are the result of either inherited or acquired genetic mutations. Second primary tumors may develop soon or very late after treatment of the first primary tumor and may reflect an underlying genetic or immunologic defect in the patient, treatment related genetic damage, or environmental exposure to carcinogens. With the greater success of modern chemotherapy and radiotherapy in achieving long-term remissions in many patients, second primary tumors are a rapidly developing disease-category. This paper will review the clinical circumstances associated with a significantly higher incidence of second primary tumors in patients with an initial primary tumor.
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Shen RN, Lu L, Jia XQ, Wong ML, Kaiser HE. The therapeutic effect of Naturin-2 on Lewis lung carcinoma and murine-AIDS. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 1997; 407:541-9. [PMID: 9322005 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-1813-0_82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/immunology
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/pathology
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/therapy
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use
- Female
- Friend murine leukemia virus/pathogenicity
- Immunity, Cellular/drug effects
- Immunologic Factors/pharmacology
- Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use
- Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated/drug effects
- Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated/immunology
- Lung Neoplasms/immunology
- Lung Neoplasms/prevention & control
- Lung Neoplasms/secondary
- Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects
- Lymphocyte Count/drug effects
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred DBA
- Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/immunology
- Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/pathology
- Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/therapy
- Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/virology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/drug effects
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
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Shen RN, Lu L, Kaiser HE, Broxmeyer HE. Murine AIDS cured by low dosage total body irradiation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 1997; 407:451-8. [PMID: 9321989 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-1813-0_66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Korabiowska M, Brinck U, Frye FF, Harshbarger JC, Schauer A, Kaiser HE. Immunohistochemical and photometric analysis of snake-melanomas. In Vivo 1997; 11:415-9. [PMID: 9427046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Snake melanomas are very rare tumours in the class of Reptilia. This study demonstrates the ploidy status and S100 and HMB45 expression in snake melanomas in connection to their morphology and clinical history.
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Bodey B, Bodey B, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Involution of the mammalian thymus, one of the leading regulators of aging. In Vivo 1997; 11:421-40. [PMID: 9427047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
During the past century of research on the thymus, the fact that every mammalian thymus undergoes marked morphological changes during the complex process of aging has been defined as a basic histogenetical rule. In characterizing the physiological (i.e. chronic) involution of the mammalian thymus, the term "Altersinvolution" referring to age-related involution is used. All other types of thymic involution are associated with an initial trigger and a relatively "acute" mechanism. In all of these factor-dependent cases of thymic involution, we use the term "akzidentelle Involution" (i.e. acute accidental thymic involution). Temporary thymic involution occurs during pregnancy, with a full restoration of the cellular microenvironment at the end of lactation. It is now clear that pregnancy alters the well established adaptational homeostasis between the neuroendocrine and immune axes. Such nonprogressive involution has also been observed during various seasons in various animals (i.e. seasonal involution). Changes characteristic of thymic involution begin during or soon after the first year of birth, and continue progressively throughout the entire life span. The 3% to 5% annual reduction rate of the cells of the human thymic microenvironment continues until middle age, when it slows down to less than 1% per year. According to the extrapolation of these results total loss of thymic reticuloepithelial tissue and the associated thymocytes should occur only at the age of 120 years in humans. This serious reduction of the thymic cellular microenvironment is a well controlled physiological process and is presumably under both local and global regulation by the cells of the RE meshwork and the neuroendocrine system, respectively. In humans, the age related decline in serum "facteur thymique sérique" (FTS) levels begins after 20 years of age and FTS completely disappears from the blood between the 5th and 6th decade of life. In contrast, the serum levels of thymosin-alpha 1 and thymopoietin seem to decline earlier, starting as early as 10 years of age. The influences of a variety of other hormones on the involution of the thymus have also been characterized: testosterone, estrogen and hydrocortisone treatment results in marked involution, cortisone and progesterone administration causes slight to moderate, while use of desoxycorticosterone has no effect. The experimental administration of thyroxine yielded dose dependent results: low doses resulted in thymic hypertrophy, higher doses produced slight hypertrophy and the highest employed doses caused thymic atrophy. The atrophy was of apicnotic type, very different from that detected after treatment with corticoid hormones. Thymus transplantation experiments indicate that age-related, physiological thymic involution has been genetically preprogrammed. Grafting of the thymus from one week old C3H leukemic strain mice into 6 month old hosts resulted in changes in thymic weight and an involution pattern that was synchronous in all recipients, in direct correlation with the glands in the donor, but not in the host. These data strongly suggest that the stimulus for thymus cell proliferation and differentiation is genetically determined within the organ implant. Since the thymus is the primary T-lymphopoietic organ during ontogenesis in the mammalian organism, its age-related involution with the already mentioned morphological alterations can be held responsible only for a decline in antigen-specific T lymphocyte immune functions. Thymic involution and diminished T lymphocyte proliferation can be partially restored by thymic tissue transplantation or use of thymic hormones. The leading physiological role of the thymic cellular microenvironment as a "clock" of the mammalian aging process is also discussed. "If present cells have come from pre-existing cells, then all cells can trace their ancestry back to the first formed cell in an unbroken line of descent."--Rudolf Virchow, 1858(1) "I have neve
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Groeger AM, Mueller MR, Odocha O, Dekan G, Salat A, Röthy W, Esposito V, Caputi M, Wolner E, Kaiser HE. Ethnic variations in lung cancer. Anticancer Res 1997; 17:2849-57. [PMID: 9252728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer of the lung is the most frequent cancer in the world, but with wide geographical variation in risk. It is most spread among males of all races worldwide, the only exception being its incidence among Chinese women aged 70 years and older. When comparing the different ethnic groups we have to consider that besides inhaling cigarette smoke actively or as a passive smoker the exposure to occupational carcinogens varies considerably according to different work places. In our study we compared 10 years of data from African-Americans in Howard University Hospital, Washington D.C. with 20 years of data from the white population in the University Hospital of Vienna, Austria. Ethnic patterns are generally consistent within each group in terms of both incidence and mortality. The difference in susceptibility between the sexes, the three major racial groups and already proven differences in genetic variations indicate the difference between individuals concerning the initiation and progression of lung cancer.
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