Acta Histochemica Et Cytochemica最新文献

Eribulin, a microtubule inhibitor, is effective as later-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and has been reported to remodel the tumor microenvironment and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the association between pretreatment EMT status and eribulin efficacy remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 41 patients with MBC (excluding invasive lobular carcinoma) treated with eribulin between 2013 and 2020. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using anti-E-cadherin (24E10) and anti-vimentin (V9) antibodies. Complete membranous E-cadherin expression (3+) was defined as normal; reduced expression (2+, 1+, 0) as altered. Negative vimentin was considered normal; positive expression, altered. Co-localization of E-cadherin and vimentin was assessed by multi-immunofluorescent staining. Of the 41 patients, 24 responded to eribulin and 17 did not. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly longer in responders than in nonresponders (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0044). Altered E-cadherin and/or vimentin expression was more frequently observed in responders (p = 0.013) and associated with longer progression-free survival (p = 0.048). These results suggest that eribulin efficacy may be predicted by altered E-cadherin and vimentin expression before treatment.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by parathyroid hyperplasia, which progresses from diffuse-type to nodular-type lesions. Nodular hyperplasia in SHPT is often considered to exhibit monoclonal proliferation, suggesting a shift toward neoplastic behavior, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this transformation remain poorly defined. In this study, we analyzed 340 surgically resected parathyroid glands from long-term dialysis patients who met clinical indications for parathyroidectomy. Based on histological architecture, lesions were classified into diffuse, nodular, or diffuse-nodular (mixed) hyperplasia. We conducted immunohistochemical analysis of Ki-67 and p16^INK4a (CDKN2A), and further assessed region-specific DNA methylation of the p16^INK4a promoter using a bisulfite padlock probe method combined with rolling circle amplification. Nodular-type lesions exhibited significantly higher Ki-67 indices and lower p16^INK4a expression compared to diffuse-type lesions. In situ methylation analysis revealed increased methylation of the p16^INK4a promoter specifically in nodular regions, suggesting epigenetic silencing. Our findings suggest that p16^INK4a silencing through promoter methylation may play a critical role in the clonal expansion and histopathological transformation of parathyroid tissue in SHPT. These results underscore the importance of epigenetic regulation in SHPT progression and suggest that p16^INK4a methylation could represent a potential biomarker for nodular transformation. The padlock probe-based detection system enabled high-resolution spatial analysis of methylation patterns and may serve as a valuable tool for dissecting epigenetic events in early phase of cellular alterations.

In our recent study, we identified Rab10-positive long tubular endosomes, which originate from macropinocytic cups, as a novel endocytic pathway in RAW264 cells. This pathway is unique because it bypasses the lysosomal degradation route and proceeds toward the Golgi region, distinguishing it from previously known endocytic routes. However, its function remains entirely unknown. Upon exploring the cargo transported by Rab10-positive tubular endosomes, we discovered that PD-L1, a cancer immune checkpoint molecule expressed on cancer cells and macrophage surfaces, was abundantly localized in Rab10-positive tubular structures in RAW264 cells. This suggests that PD-L1 may be a significant cargo for these endosomes in macrophages. These findings offer new insights into the role of Rab10-positive tubular endosomes in the intracellular transport of PD-L1, potentially influencing its expression on the cell surface.

Sex-determining region Y (Sry) triggers testis development in mammals, and the presence or absence of testicular secretion determines their sex-specific brain phenotype. Mice with Y chromosome replaced by that of Mus domesticus poschiavinus (Y ^POS ) frequently display sex reversal due to delayed Sry expression. However, brain sexual dimorphism under conditions of disorders of sex development remains unclear. Here, we report sex differences in the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area, delineated by cells positive for calbindin D28k, a male-predominant neuronal marker (CALB-SDN), in Y ^POS mice. The mice were divided into females and males according to gonadal phenotype. Cells immunoreactive (ir) for calbindin D28k (CALB) were more extensively distributed in male Y ^POS mice, compared with females. The CALB-ir cell numbers in the CALB-SDN were significantly higher in Y ^POS males than in Y ^POS females, which had numbers comparable to wild type females. No left-right differences in CALB-ir cell numbers were observed in the CALB-SDN. Collectively, these results demonstrate that sexual dimorphism of the CALB-ir cell cluster in the CALB-SDN strongly correlates with the gonadal sex phenotype rather than with the chromosomal sex in the Y ^POS mice, suggesting the effect of testicular secretion on the brain sexual differentiation with aberrant Y-linked gene expression.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies in men and remodeling of extracellular collagen, especially collagen type I immensely contributes to the progress of prostate cancer. Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) is a receptor of collagen type I and transmits intracellular signaling in not only normal cells but also malignant cells, facilitating tumor progression. However, clinical and biological significance of DDR2 has not been well examined in prostate cancer. We therefore immunolocalized DDR2 and collagen type I in 117 prostate carcinoma tissues and correlated their immunoreactivity with clinicopathological characteristics of prostate cancer. We also conducted in vitro experiments using human prostate cancer cell lines to confirm the findings from immunohistochemical study. DDR2 immunoreactivity was positively associated with an aggressive phenotype of prostate cancer, partially in association with dense collagen I tissues which consisted of thin fibers. In addition, DDR2 immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with adverse clinical outcomes of prostate cancer. In vitro experiments revealed that DDR2 promoted proliferation and migration of PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cancer cell lines. It is therefore speculated that DDR2 promoted prostate cancer progression by interacting with collagen I, serving as a potent prognostic factor in prostate cancer.

The long non-coding RNA PVT1 reportedly forms a circular RNA variant (circPVT1). As circPVT1 is expressed in various cancers and has been implicated in promoting cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression, it is considered a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. We previously confirmed that circPVT1 expression varies according to the Gleason pattern, a morphological indicator of malignancy in prostate cancer. In this study, we assessed the expression of circPVT1 using BaseScope^TM assay with prostate cancer tissues and evaluated the correlation with the Grade Group (based on Gleason pattern), an indicator used to morphologically evaluate the degree of malignancy of prostate cancer. The relationship between circPVT1 expression and tumor proliferation was evaluated using cells in which circPVT1 expression was suppressed using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/RfxCas13d system. BaseScope^TM assay confirmed that circPVT1 expression was significantly higher in Grade Group 2-5 (intermediate- and high-grade groups) than Grade Group 1 (low-grade group). In vitro experiments using the CRISPR/RfxCas13d system showed that specific suppression of circPVT1 expression resulted in a significant reduction in the number of prostate cancer cells. The results of this study suggest that circPVT1 is involved in tumor growth in prostate cancer and may serve as a therapeutic target for moderately and highly malignant prostate cancers that express circPVT1.

α-Synuclein is the causative gene for PARK1 and PARK4 (heterozygous triplication of SNCA) and is associated with Parkinson's disease, where it localizes to presynaptic terminals in mature neurons. Beyond Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein has also been implicated in various other neuronal disorders. In vitro studies using purified α-synuclein protein have suggested it is involved in synaptic vesicle assembly. However, its physiological function and the ultrastructure of its localization sites in presynaptic terminals remain unclear. To address this, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing human α-synuclein tagged with mKate2 (hSNCA-mKate2 mice) to investigate its in vivo role in synaptic vesicle pool formation at presynaptic terminals. These mice showed normal growth and fertility, and even at 1-yr. old, they showed no motor dysfunction compared to their wild-type littermates. Additionally, no abnormal protein aggregates indicative of neurodegeneration were observed. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the in vivo role of α-synuclein within presynaptic terminals, utilizing hSNCA-mKate2 mice in combination with in-resin correlative light and electron microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry.

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification, known as O-GlcNAcylation, is a dynamic post-translational modification involving the addition of N-acetylglucosamine to serine or threonine residues. It has emerged as a critical regulator in diabetic pathophysiology. This review summarizes current research on the role of O-GlcNAcylation in hyperglycemia-induced cellular dysfunction, and focuses on vascular smooth muscle cells, renal cytoskeletal proteins, and diabetic complications in animal and human models. Studies reveal that hyperglycemia upregulates O-GlcNAc transferase activity, disrupting the interplay between glycosylation and phosphorylation, thereby impairing signaling pathways and exacerbating vascular proliferation and renal cytoskeletal disorganization. Notable findings include the imbalance of β-actin modifications in diabetic nephropathy, correlated with podocyte damage and glomerular abnormalities. By elucidating these mechanistic pathways, this review underscores the potential of O-GlcNAcylation as a biomarker and a therapeutic target. Future research should focus on tissue-specific effects and pharmacological strategies that mitigate diabetes-induced complications while preserving normal cellular functions.

α-Synuclein is the causative gene for PARK1 and PARK4 (heterozygous triplication of SNCA) and is associated with Parkinson's disease, where it localizes to presynaptic terminals in mature neurons. Beyond Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein has also been implicated in various other neuronal disorders. In vitro studies using purified α-synuclein protein have suggested it is involved in synaptic vesicle assembly. However, its physiological function and the ultrastructure of its localization sites in presynaptic terminals remain unclear. To address this, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing human α-synuclein tagged with mKate2 (hSNCA-mKate2 mice) to investigate its in vivo role in synaptic vesicle pool formation at presynaptic terminals. These mice showed normal growth and fertility, and even at 1-yr. old, they showed no motor dysfunction compared to their wild-type littermates. Additionally, no abnormal protein aggregates indicative of neurodegeneration were observed. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the in vivo role of α-synuclein within presynaptic terminals, utilizing hSNCA-mKate2 mice in combination with in-resin correlative light and electron microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry.

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification, known as O-GlcNAcylation, is a dynamic post-translational modification involving the addition of N-acetylglucosamine to serine or threonine residues. It has emerged as a critical regulator in diabetic pathophysiology. This review summarizes current research on the role of O-GlcNAcylation in hyperglycemia-induced cellular dysfunction, and focuses on vascular smooth muscle cells, renal cytoskeletal proteins, and diabetic complications in animal and human models. Studies reveal that hyperglycemia upregulates O-GlcNAc transferase activity, disrupting the interplay between glycosylation and phosphorylation, thereby impairing signaling pathways and exacerbating vascular proliferation and renal cytoskeletal disorganization. Notable findings include the imbalance of β-actin modifications in diabetic nephropathy, correlated with podocyte damage and glomerular abnormalities. By elucidating these mechanistic pathways, this review underscores the potential of O-GlcNAcylation as a biomarker and a therapeutic target. Future research should focus on tissue-specific effects and pharmacological strategies that mitigate diabetes-induced complications while preserving normal cellular functions.