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Blasko F, Krivosikova L, Babal P, Breza J, Trebaticky B, Kuruc R, Mravec B, Janega P. Innervation density and types of nerves in prostate cancer. Neoplasma 2023; 70:787-795. [PMID: 38247335 DOI: 10.4149/neo_2023_231116n593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Innervation of cancerous tissue represents an important pathway enabling the nervous system to influence the processes associated with the initiation, progression, and metastasis of a neoplastic process. In the context of prostate cancer, several papers report the presence of innervation and its modulating effect on the cancer prognosis. However, most of the data are experimental, with limited information on human prostate cancer innervation. Morphometric analysis of archival prostate specimen immunohistochemistry with neural markers PGP9.5 and S100 showed a significant decrease of nerve density in the prostate cancer (n=44) compared to the normal prostate tissue (n=18) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (n=28). Sympathetic nerves were detected with TH, parasympathetic with VAChT, and sensory nerves with SP and CGRP protein detection. Dual immunofluorescence revealed numerous sympathetic nerves in normal prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia, especially in the peripheral parts. Only a few parasympathetic nerves were found between the glands and in the peripheral parts of the prostate and benign hyperplasia. Sporadic positivity for sensory innervation was present only in approximately 1/10 of nerve fibers, especially in the larger nerves. The pattern of innervation in prostate cancer was analogous to that in normal prostate gland and benign prostatic hyperplasia but there was a significantly lower amount of all nerve types, especially in high-grade carcinoma cases. Although not significant, there was a tendency of decreasing innervation density with increasing Gleason score. Regarding the low density of nerves in prostate carcinoma, the significantly lower PCNA counts in nerves of the cancer specimens cannot be ascribed to lower proliferation activity. Our data confirmed the lower nerve density in the prostate cancer compared to the benign prostate tissue. We could not approve an increased nerve proliferation activity in prostate cancer. All nerve types, most the sympathetic, less the parasympathetic, and the sensory nerves, are present in prostate cancer. The highest nerve density at the periphery of the cancer tissue implies this to be the result of an expansive tumor growth. It is evident that the results of experimental prostate cancer models can be applied to human pathology only to a certain extent. The relation between the range of innervation and the biology of prostate cancer is very complex and will require more detailed information to be applied in therapeutic solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Blasko
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Krivosikova
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavel Babal
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jan Breza
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Branislav Trebaticky
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Roman Kuruc
- Health Care Surveillance Authority of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Boris Mravec
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavol Janega
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Krivosikova L, Kuracinova T, Martanovic P, Hyblova M, Kaluzay J, Uhrinova A, Janega P, Babal P. Long COVID Complicated by Fatal Cytomegalovirus and Aspergillus Infection of the Lungs: An Autopsy Case Report. Viruses 2023; 15:1810. [PMID: 37766216 PMCID: PMC10535245 DOI: 10.3390/v15091810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
After the acute phase of COVID-19, some patients develop long COVID. This term is used for a variety of conditions with a complex, yet not fully elucidated etiology, likely including the prolonged persistence of the virus in the organism and progression to lung fibrosis. We present a unique autopsy case of a patient with severe COVID-19 with prolonged viral persistence who developed interstitial lung fibrosis complicated by a fatal combination of cytomegalovirus and Aspergillus infection. SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected at autopsy in the lungs more than two months after the acute infection, although tests from the nasopharynx were negative. Immune dysregulation after COVID-19 and the administration of corticoid therapy created favorable conditions for the cytomegalovirus and Aspergillus infection that were uncovered at autopsy. These pathogens may represent a risk for opportunistic infections, complicating not only the acute coronavirus infection but also long COVID, as was documented in the presented case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Krivosikova
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.K.); (T.K.); (P.J.)
| | - Tereza Kuracinova
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.K.); (T.K.); (P.J.)
| | - Peter Martanovic
- Health Care Surveillance Authority, 829 24 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | | | - Jozef Kaluzay
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | | | - Pavol Janega
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.K.); (T.K.); (P.J.)
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 813 71 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavel Babal
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.K.); (T.K.); (P.J.)
- Medirex Group Academy, n.p.o., 949 05 Nitra, Slovakia;
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Forgacova N, Holesova Z, Hekel R, Sedlackova T, Pos Z, Krivosikova L, Janega P, Kuracinova KM, Babal P, Radvak P, Radvanszky J, Gazdarica J, Budis J, Szemes T. Evaluation and limitations of different approaches among COVID-19 fatal cases using whole-exome sequencing data. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:12. [PMID: 36627554 PMCID: PMC9830622 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-09084-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in various disease symptoms and severity, ranging from asymptomatic, through mildly symptomatic, up to very severe and even fatal cases. Although environmental, clinical, and social factors play important roles in both susceptibility to the SARS-CoV-2 infection and progress of COVID-19 disease, it is becoming evident that both pathogen and host genetic factors are important too. In this study, we report findings from whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 27 individuals who died due to COVID-19, especially focusing on frequencies of DNA variants in genes previously associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity of COVID-19. RESULTS We selected the risk DNA variants/alleles or target genes using four different approaches: 1) aggregated GWAS results from the GWAS Catalog; 2) selected publications from PubMed; 3) the aggregated results of the Host Genetics Initiative database; and 4) a commercial DNA variant annotation/interpretation tool providing its own knowledgebase. We divided these variants/genes into those reported to influence the susceptibility to the SARS-CoV-2 infection and those influencing the severity of COVID-19. Based on the above, we compared the frequencies of alleles found in the fatal COVID-19 cases to the frequencies identified in two population control datasets (non-Finnish European population from the gnomAD database and genomic frequencies specific for the Slovak population from our own database). When compared to both control population datasets, our analyses indicated a trend of higher frequencies of severe COVID-19 associated risk alleles among fatal COVID-19 cases. This trend reached statistical significance specifically when using the HGI-derived variant list. We also analysed other approaches to WES data evaluation, demonstrating its utility as well as limitations. CONCLUSIONS Although our results proved the likely involvement of host genetic factors pointed out by previous studies looking into severity of COVID-19 disease, careful considerations of the molecular-testing strategies and the evaluated genomic positions may have a strong impact on the utility of genomic testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Forgacova
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Comenius University Science Park, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.7634.60000000109409708Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.419303.c0000 0001 2180 9405Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 845 05 Slovakia
| | | | - Rastislav Hekel
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Comenius University Science Park, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.7634.60000000109409708Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.455020.6Geneton Ltd, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.450672.20000 0001 2169 605XSlovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information, Bratislava, 811 04 Slovakia
| | - Tatiana Sedlackova
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Comenius University Science Park, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.455020.6Geneton Ltd, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Pos
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Comenius University Science Park, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.419303.c0000 0001 2180 9405Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 845 05 Slovakia ,grid.455020.6Geneton Ltd, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia
| | - Lucia Krivosikova
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, 813 72 Slovakia
| | - Pavol Janega
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, 813 72 Slovakia
| | - Kristina Mikus Kuracinova
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, 813 72 Slovakia
| | - Pavel Babal
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, 813 72 Slovakia
| | - Peter Radvak
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Comenius University Science Park, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia
| | - Jan Radvanszky
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Comenius University Science Park, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.7634.60000000109409708Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.419303.c0000 0001 2180 9405Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 845 05 Slovakia ,grid.455020.6Geneton Ltd, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia
| | - Juraj Gazdarica
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.455020.6Geneton Ltd, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.450672.20000 0001 2169 605XSlovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information, Bratislava, 811 04 Slovakia
| | - Jaroslav Budis
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Comenius University Science Park, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.455020.6Geneton Ltd, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.450672.20000 0001 2169 605XSlovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information, Bratislava, 811 04 Slovakia
| | - Tomas Szemes
- grid.7634.60000000109409708Comenius University Science Park, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.7634.60000000109409708Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia ,grid.455020.6Geneton Ltd, Bratislava, 841 04 Slovakia
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Plava J, Burikova M, Cihova M, Trnkova L, Smolkova B, Babal P, Krivosikova L, Janega P, Rojikova L, Drahosova S, Bohac M, Danisovic L, Kucerova L, Miklikova S. Chemotherapy-triggered changes in stromal compartment drive tumor invasiveness and progression of breast cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:302. [PMID: 34579743 PMCID: PMC8477536 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Chemotherapy remains a standard treatment option for breast cancer despite its toxic effects to normal tissues. However, the long-lasting effects of chemotherapy on non-malignant cells may influence tumor cell behavior and response to treatment. Here, we have analyzed the effects of doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PAC), commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, on the survival and cellular functions of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), which comprise an important part of breast tumor microenvironment. Methods Chemotherapy-exposed MSC (DOX-MSC, PAC-MSC) were co-cultured with three breast cancer cell (BCC) lines differing in molecular characteristics to study chemotherapy-triggered changes in stromal compartment of the breast tissue and its relevance to tumor progression in vitro and in vivo. Conditioned media from co-cultured cells were used to determine the cytokine content. Mixture of BCC and exposed or unexposed MSC were subcutaneously injected into the immunodeficient SCID/Beige mice to analyze invasion into the surrounding tissue and possible metastases. The same mixtures of cells were applied on the chorioallantoic membrane to study angiogenic potential. Results Therapy-educated MSC differed in cytokine production compared to un-exposed MSC and influenced proliferation and secretory phenotype of tumor cells in co-culture. Histochemical tumor xenograft analysis revealed increased invasive potential of tumor cells co-injected with DOX-MSC or PAC-MSC and also the presence of nerve fiber infiltration in tumors. Chemotherapy-exposed MSC have also influenced angiogenic potential in the model of chorioallantoic membrane. Conclusions Data presented in this study suggest that neoadjuvant chemotherapy could possibly alter otherwise healthy stroma in breast tissue into a hostile tumor-promoting and metastasis favoring niche. Understanding of the tumor microenvironment and its complex net of signals brings us closer to the ability to recognize the mechanisms that prevent failure of standard therapy and accomplish the curative purpose. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02087-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Plava
- Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Monika Burikova
- Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Marina Cihova
- Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Trnkova
- Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Bozena Smolkova
- Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavel Babal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Krivosikova
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavol Janega
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Rojikova
- Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Slavka Drahosova
- Hermes LabSystems, s.r.o., Puchovska 12, 831 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Martin Bohac
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Department of Oncosurgery, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Regenmed Ltd, Medena 29, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lubos Danisovic
- Regenmed Ltd, Medena 29, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Kucerova
- Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Svetlana Miklikova
- Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Lorencova M, Mitro A, Jurikova M, Galfiova P, Mikusova R, Krivosikova L, Janegova A, Palkovic M, Polak S. Ependymal cells surface of human third brain ventricle by scanning electron microscopy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 121:437-443. [PMID: 32484709 DOI: 10.4149/bll_2020_071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The ependymal lining of the human brain ventricular system displays distinct structural differences and functional heterogeneity among individual ependymal cells (ECs). To date, multi-ciliated ECs (E1 cells), bi-ciliated ECs (E2 cells), uni-ciliated ECs (E3 cells), ECs without cilia, and ECs with cytoplasmic protrusions have been described in human brain ventricles. METHOD Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we evaluated ependymal samples from 6 defined regions of the third ventricle from 9 human brains. These regions were strictly defined according to the periventricular structures they neighbour with. RESULTS We observed different structures on the apical surface of the ECs. Various ECs differed from each other by the presence of microvilli, secretory bodies, and a variable number of cilia, which led us to divide the ECs into several exactly specified types according to their apical morphology. CONCLUSION We found all types of ECs in every examined region with a predominance of particular types of apical surface of ECs in the individual areas (Tab. 4, Fig. 7, Ref. 22).
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