Intraluminal volume homeostasis: A common sertonergic mechanism among diverse epithelia

Modern Imaging Technologies of Mast Cells for Biology and Medicine (Review)

Mast cells play an important role in the body defense against allergens, pathogens, and parasites by participating in inflammation development. However, there is evidence for their contributing to the pathogenesis of a number of atopic, autoimmune, as well as cardiovascular, oncologic, neurologic, and other diseases (allergy, asthma, eczema, rhinitis, anaphylaxis, mastocytosis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory gastrointestinal and pulmonary diseases, migraine, etc.). The diagnosis of many diseases and the study of mast cell functions in health and disease require their identification; so, the knowledge on adequate imaging techniques for mast cells in humans and different species of animals is of particular importance. The present review summarizes the data on major methods of mast cell imaging: enzyme histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, as well as histochemistry using histological stains. The main histological stains bind to heparin and other acidic mucopolysaccharides contained in mast cells and stain them metachromatically. Among these are toluidine blue, methylene blue (including that contained in May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain), thionin, pinacyanol, and others. Safranin and fluorescent dyes: berberine and avidin - also bind to heparin. Longer staining with histological dyes or alcian blue staining is needed to label mucosal and immature mast cells. Advanced techniques - enzyme histochemistry and especially immunohistochemistry - enable to detect mast cells high-selectively using a reaction to tryptases and chymases (specific proteases of these cells). In the immunohistochemical study of tryptases and chymases, species-specific differences in the distribution of the proteases in mast cells of humans and animals should be taken into account for their adequate detection. The immunohistochemical reaction to immunoglobulin E receptor (FcεRI) and c-kit receptor is not specific to mast cells, although the latter is important to demonstrate their proliferation in normal and malignant growth. Correct fixation of biological material is also discussed in the review as it is of great significance for histochemical and immunohistochemical mast cell detection. Fluorescent methods of immunohistochemistry and a multimarker analysis in combination with confocal microscopy are reported to be new technological approaches currently used to study various mast cell populations.

Large-scale evaluation of SLC18A2 in prostate cancer reveals diagnostic and prognostic biomarker potential at three molecular levels

Limitations of current diagnostic and prognostic tools for prostate cancer (PC) have led to over-diagnosis and over-treatment. Here, we investigate the biomarker potential of the SLC18A2 (VMAT2) gene for PC at three molecular levels. Thus, SLC18A2 promoter methylation was analyzed in 767 malignant and 78 benign radical prostatectomy (RP) samples using methylation-specific qPCR and Illumina 450K methylation microarray data. SLC18A2 transcript levels were assessed in 412 malignant and 45 benign RP samples using RNAseq data. SLC18A2 protein was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 502 malignant and 305 benign RP samples. Cancer-specificity of molecular changes was tested using Mann-Whitney U tests and/or receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Log rank, uni- and multivariate Cox regression tests were used for survival analyses. We found that SLC18A2 promoter hypermethylation was highly cancer-specific (area under the curve (AUC): 0.923-0.976) and associated with biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RP in univariate analyses. SLC18A2 transcript levels were reduced in PC and had independent prognostic value for BCR after RP (multivariate HR 0.13, P < 0.05). Likewise, SLC18A2 protein was down-regulated in PC (AUC 0.898) and had independent prognostic value for BCR (multivariate HR 0.51, P < 0.05). Reduced SLC18A2 protein expression was also associated with poor overall survival in univariate analysis (HR 0.29, P < 0.05). Our results highlight SLC18A2 as a new promising methylation marker candidate for PC diagnosis. Furthermore, SLC18A2 expression (RNA and protein) showed promising prognostic potential beyond routine clinicopathological variables. Thus, novel SLC18A2-based molecular tests could have useful future applications for PC detection and identification of high-risk patients.

Serotonin and serotonin transport in the regulation of lactation

Serotonin (5-HT), classically known as a neurotransmitter involved in regulating sleep, appetite, memory, sexual behavior, neuroendocrine function and mood is also synthesized in epithelial cells located in many organs throughout the body, including the mammary gland. The function of epithelial 5-HT is dependent on the expression of the 5-HT receptors in a particular system. The conventional components of a classic 5-HT system are found within the mammary gland; synthetic enzymes (tryptophan hydroxylase I, aromatic amino acid decarboxylase), several 5-HT receptors and the 5-HT reuptake transporter (SERT). In the mammary gland, two actions of 5-HT through two different 5-HT receptor subtypes have been described: negative feedback on milk synthesis and secretion, and stimulation of parathyroid hormone related-protein, a calcium-mobilizing hormone. As with neuronal systems, the regulation of 5-HT activity is multifactorial, but one seminal component is reuptake of 5-HT from the extracellular space following its release. Importantly, the wide availability of selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) allows the manipulation of 5-HT activity in a biological system. Here, we review the role of 5-HT in mammary gland function, review the biochemistry, genetics and physiology of SERT, and discuss how SERT is vital to the function of the mammary gland.

Differential expression of serotonin, tryptophan hydroxylase and monoamine oxidase A in the mammary gland of the Myotis velifer bat

The mammary gland has long drawn the attention of the scientific community due to the limited knowledge of some fundamental aspects involved in the control of its function. Myotis velifer, a microchiropteran species, provides an interesting model to study some of the regulatory factors involved in the control of the mammary gland cycle. Having an asynchronous, monoestrous reproductive pattern, female M. velifer bats undergo drastic morphological changes of the breast during the reproductive cycle. Current research on non-chiropteran mammals indicates that serotonin (5-HT) plays a major role in the intraluminal volume homeostasis of the mammary gland during lactation; however, an analysis of both the expression and localization of the main components of the serotonergic system in the bat mammary gland is lacking. Thus, the objectives of the present study were: to describe the gross and histological anatomy of the mammary gland of M. velifer to establish the lactation period for this species; to analyze the distribution and expression of the main serotonergic components in the mammary tissues of these bats under the physiological conditions of lactation, involution and the resting phase; and to provide information on the involvement of 5-HT in the regulation of the physiological function of this organ. To assess the expression and localization of serotonergic components, multiple immunofluorescence, Western blot and HPLC methods were used. 5-HT and the enzyme that catalyzes its synthesis (TPH) were located in both myoepithelial and luminal epithelial cells, while the enzyme responsible for the catabolism of this neurohormone (MAO A) was found in luminal epithelial cells as well as in secreted products. We also found an increased expression of serotonergic components during lactation, indicating that elements of the serotonergic system may play an important role in lactation in this species of bat in a way similar to that of other mammal species.

Mammary gland serotonin regulates parathyroid hormone-related protein and other bone-related signals

Breast cells drive bone demineralization during lactation and metastatic cancers. A shared mechanism among these physiological and pathological states is endocrine secretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), which acts through osteoblasts to stimulate osteoclastic bone demineralization. The regulation of PTHrP has not been accounted for fully by any conventional mammotropic stimuli or tumor growth factors. Serotonin (5-HT) synthesis within breast epithelial cells is induced during lactation and in advancing breast cancer. Here we report that serotonin deficiency (knockout of tryptophan hydroxylase-1) results in a reduction of mammary PTHrP expression during lactation, which is rescued by restoring 5-HT synthesis. 5-HT induced PTHrP expression in lactogen-primed mammary epithelial cells from either mouse or cow. In human breast cancer cells 5-HT induced both PTHrP and the metastasis-associated transcription factor Runx2/Cbfa1. Based on receptor expression and pharmacological evidence, the 5-HT2 receptor type was implicated as being critical for induction of PTHrP and Runx2. These results connect 5-HT synthesis to the induction of bone-regulating factors in the normal mammary gland and in breast cancer cells.