Histology and histopathology Vol.19, nº 1 (2004)

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  • Publication
    Open Access
    The ARF-p53 senescence pathway in mouse and human cells
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Wadhwa, R.; Sugahara, T.; Taira, K.; Kaul, S.C.
    Mouse and human cells have most frequently been used for studies that have led to the elucidation of various molecular pathways involved in senescence. The ARF–p53 pathway has been assigned as one of the major protagonists in these phenomena. ARF is an alternative reading frame protein encoded along with p16INK4A by the INK4a locus on human chromosome 9p21 and the corresponding locus on mouse chromosome 4. Whereas the mouse ARF (p19ARF) consists of 169 amino acids, the human ARF (p14ARF) consists of 132 amino acids, truncated at the C-terminus. Molecular studies on the regulation of ARF activity by its binding partners have revealed that mouse ARF protein, but not human ARF protein, interacts with a cytoplasmic protein, Pex19p. This interaction of mouse ARF with Pex19p results in its milder p53 activation function in mouse cells as compared to human cells and thus accounts, at least in part, for the weaker tumor surveillance and frequent immortalization of mouse cells.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Pathological change of articular cartilage in the mandibular head treated with immunosuppressant FK 506
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Ueno, T.; Kagawa, T.; Kanou, M.; Fujii, T.; Fukunaga, J.; Mizukawa, N.; Sugahara, T.; Yamamoto, T.
    While several reports have documented immunosuppressant-induced osteoporosis, the exact mechanism of the pathological change of the joint remains to be clarified. In the present study, we have demonstrated the pathological change of the articular cartilage in the mandibular head of five Sprague-Dawley rats administered with the immunosuppressant FK 506 for 28 days. Three-dimensional micro-computed tomography of the mandibular heads in treated rats showed a significant decrease in trabecular bone volume compared to control rats. Histological observation revealed atrophic change of the articular cartilage. Immunohistological observation using anti-proliferative cell nuclear antibody (PCNA), type I, II, and type X collagen antibodies showed significantly decreased proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes in the articular cartilage compared with the control group (p<0.05). Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining revealed no significant difference in the numbers of osteoclasts at the chondro-osseous junction. Thus, FK 506 administration inhibited chondrogenic cell proliferation and differentiation and might cause osteoporotic change of subcartilage trabecular bone that subsequently forms in the mandibular head
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Promoter methylation status of tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes in neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastric epithelia
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Tamura, G.
    A number of tumor suppressor and tumorrelated genes exhibit promoter hypermethylation with resulting gene silencing in human cancers. In addition, several gene promoters have also been shown to become hypermethylated in non-neoplastic cells during aging. To assess the physiological consequence and clinical significance of gene promoter methylation in gastric epithelia, our laboratory has studied the methylation status of tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes, including APC, DAP-kinase, DCC, E-cadherin, GSTP1, hMLH1, p16, PTEN, RASSF1A, RUNX3 and TSLC1, in neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastric epithelia. The tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes, except APC, were generally unmethylated in non-neoplastic gastric epithelia obtained from younger individuals. The frequencies of methylation increased with age to varying degrees in various genes, although GSTP1 and PTEN methylation was completely absent in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastric epithelia. The methylation frequencies in each gene were found to be comparable in neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastric epithelia, except the methylation of RUNX3 and TSLC1, which was mostly cancer-specific (P<0.01). When methylation frequencies were compared between non-neoplastic gastric epithelia from cancer-bearing and non-cancerbearing stomachs, hMLH1 and p16 methylation was more frequent in those from cancer-bearing stomachs (P<0.01). Promoter methylation in tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes initially occurs in non-neoplastic gastric epithelia, increases with age, and ultimately silences gene function to constitute a field-defect that may predispose tissues to gastric cancer evolution. In clinical applications RUNX3 and TSLC1 methylation may be utilized as molecular diagnostic markers, and hMLH1 and p16 methylation as predictors of malignancy in the stomach.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    The distribution and role of myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells in normal pancreas and various pancreatic lesions
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Kuroda, Naoto; Toi, M.; Nakayama, Hiroyuki; Miyazaki, E.; Yamamoto, M.; Hayashi, Yoshihiro; Hiroi, Makoto; Enzan, H.
    To elucidate the distribution and role of myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells in various pancreatic lesions, we performed an immunohistochemical study using a streptoavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique. We selected 43 pancreatic lesions from 1 biopsied, 22 surgically resected and 12 autopsied specimens: acute pancreatitis (n=3), chronic non-obstructive pancreatitis (n=4), obstructive pancreatitis (n=7), islet cell tumor (n=4), serous cystadenoma (n=7), mucinous cystadenoma (n=6), and invasive ductal carcinoma (n=12). In normal pancreas, myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells were predominantly present in the peridcutal and periacinar areas, respectively. Both myofibroblasts and CD34- positive cells were observed in the stroma of chronic pancreatitis. In four islet cell tumors, myofibroblasts were present in the stroma of the tumor center, but no CD34-positive stromal cells were identified. Additionally, myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells were located in the inner layer and the outer layer of the capsule of three islet cell tumors, respectively. In nine of the thirteen cystadenomas, only myofibroblasts were recognized in the cyst wall. In the remaining four cystadenomas, a small number of CD34-positive cells were observed in the cyst wall. In 12 invasive ductal carcinomas, the stroma possessed a lot of myofibroblasts, but there were no or few CD34-positive stromal cells. In conclusion, it seems that the abundant amount of CD34-stromal cells in the main lesions is characteristic of chronic inflammatory lesions. Myofibroblasts and CD34-positive stromal cells may play a role in regulating the tumor growth in the capsule of islet cell tumors of the pancreas.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Skeletal muscle regeneration and Trypanosoma cruzi-induced myositis in rats
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Maldonado, I.R.S.C.; Ferreira, M.L.; Camargos, E.R.S.; Chiari, E.; Machado, C.R.S.
    Although Chagas’ disease is known to provoke severe acute myositis, information on muscle regeneration is missing. The current paper shows that during T. cruzi infection in rats, skeletal muscle parasitism and the consequent inflammatory process are higher in muscle with a high proportion of type-I myofibres (soleus and diaphragm). Immunohistochemistry showed an acute inflammatory process characterized by ED1+ and ED2+ macrophages, CD8+ lymphocytes, and NK cells. Parasite-nest rupture provoked segmental degeneration of myofibres followed by regeneration. These phenomena were observed at both light and transmission electron microscopy levels. Myofibre regeneration involved activation of satellite cells assessed by the expression of MyoD, a musclespecific transcription factor. Ultrastructural evidence of fusion of myoblast-like cells with the intact segment of degenerating fibres has been provided. At the chronic phase no signs of fibrosis were found, but sparse and small inflammatory foci were found. Our results argue against the relevant participation of autoimmunity phenomena in both acute and chronic phases and furnish a new view for explaining histopathological findings in human patient muscles.