Novel Variant Identified in the Enhancer Region of Host Transcription Factor, BRN3A, is a Significant Risk Factor for HPV-Induced Uterine Cervix Cancer.

Among the HPV-mediated cervical cancers, cellular factor BRN3A has gained considerable attention due to its role in promoting an anti-apoptotic cellular environment and in facilitating epitheliotropic transformations of the host. The majority of previous studies looked at BRN3A's molecular characteristics; however, the possibility of genetic variations in BRN3A's auto-regulatory region in relation to cervical cancer risk has been underestimated until now. In a retrospective study in the Eastern UP population, India, we detected genetic variations in the cis-regulatory proximal enhancer region located around 5.6 kb upstream of transcription start site of BRN3A. Our analysis of PCR and DNA sequencing confirmed this novel SNP (BRN3A g.60163379A>G) within the auto-regulatory region of BRN3A. As compared to control subjects, cancer cases exhibited a 1.32-fold higher allele frequency (χ2 = 6.315, p = 0.012). In homozygous (GG) but not in heterozygous conditions, odds ratio (OR) analysis suggests a significant association of cancer risk with the SNP (OR = 2.60, p ≤ 0.004). We further confirmed using the functional analysis that this SNP increased the luciferase gene activity in HPV-positive cervical cancer SiHa cells that were exposed to progesterone. As a result of the association of polymorphisms in a non-coding region of an oncogene with increased cancer risks, we are suggesting that this genetic variation in non-coding region can be used in prediction, diagnosis, or predicting the progression of the disease.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas: A lesser known entity-diagnosis and pitfalls: A case report.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) is a rare pancreatic neoplasm with a reported incidence of 0.1% to 2.7% of all pancreatic tumors. Because radiological presentation of pancreatic tumors is quite overlapping, distinctive features in fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) helps in its diagnosis preoperatively. Being a low-grade malignancy presenting predominantly in young females, correct preoperative diagnosis minimizes the need of extensive surgery. SPT carries good prognosis without any adjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy in most cases, even in the presence of metastatic disease. On the other hand, aggressive surgical resection is required for ductal adenocarcinoma which is more common pancreatic tumor (90%). We report here a case of a 49-year-old female diagnosed as SPT. The importance of the need for the radiologist, pathologist, and surgeon to be familiar with SPT is highlighted so that it is more often diagnosed as there are significant therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Cytodiagnosis of a Cutaneous Clear Cell Malignancy: Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma on Chin.

Clear cell type of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is most common urological malignancy. Several diagnostic challenges arise when it presents as a cutaneous nodule, being an uncommon presentation. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of a cutaneous nodule is crucial for distinguishing primary tumours from metastatic tumours because cutaneous metastases represent a terminal stage of illness. Due to considerable overlap of cytomorphological features determination of primary warrants need of detailed clinical history and close inspection of every cytological detail. We report here a case of cutaneous metastasis of RCC on chin in a patient 11 years after nephrectomy. Though there are reports of RCC metastases diagnosed on histology, there are fewer cytology case reports. Cytological differential diagnosis has been discussed for arriving at the final diagnosis in case of clear cell tumours. Early and accurate diagnosis is mandatory for optimal treatment. Cytodiagnosis of cutaneous metastasis of RCC is uncommon due to its low suspicion index in cutaneous nodules. More so, it presents late and an unusual sites due to its resemblance to common dermatological diseases.

Increased expression of endosomal members of toll-like receptor family abrogates wound healing in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The inflammatory phase of wound healing cascade is an important determinant of the fate of the wound. Acute inflammation is necessary to initiate proper wound healing, while chronic inflammation abrogates wound healing. Different endosomal members of toll-like receptor (TLR) family initiate inflammatory signalling via a range of different inflammatory mediators such as interferons, internal tissue damaged-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and hyperactive effector T cells. Sustained signalling of TLR9 and TLR7 contributes to chronic inflammation by activating the plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Diabetic wounds are also characterised by sustained inflammatory phase. The objective of this study was to analyse the differential expression of endosomal TLRs in human diabetic wounds compared with control wounds. We analysed the differential expression of TLR7 and TLR9 both at transcriptional and translational levels in wounds of 84 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 6 control subjects without diabetes using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot and immunohistochemistry. TLR7 and TLR9 were significantly up-regulated in wounds of the patients with T2DM compared with the controls and were dependent on the infection status of the diabetic wounds, and wounds with microbial infection exhibited lower expression levels of endosomal TLRs. Altered endosomal TLR expression in T2DM subjects might be associated with wound healing impairment.

Decreased expression of heat shock proteins may lead to compromised wound healing in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

BACKGROUND: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are inducible stress proteins expressed in cells exposed to stress. HSPs promote wound healing by recruitment of dermal fibroblasts to the site of injury and bring about protein homeostasis. Diabetic wounds are hard to heal and inadequate HSPs may be important contributors in the etiology of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). OBJECTIVE: To analyze the differential expression of HSPs and their downstream molecules in human diabetic wounds compared to control wounds. METHODS: Expressional levels of HSP27, HSP47 and HSP70 and their downstream molecules like TLR4, p38-MAPK were seen in biopsies from 101 human diabetic wounds compared to 8 control subjects without diabetes using RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Our study suggested a significant down regulation of HSP70, HSP47 and HSP27 (p value=<0.001 for HSP70; p value=0.007 for HSP47; p value=0.007 for HSP27) in DFU along with their downstream molecules TLR4 and p38-MAPK (p value=0.006 for p38-MAPK; p value=0.02 for TLR4). HSP70 levels were significantly lower in male subjects and their levels increased significantly with the grades of wound on Wagner's scale. Infection status of the wounds was found to be significantly associated with the increased levels of HSP70 and HSP27 in infected diabetic wounds. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that the down regulation of HSPs in diabetic wounds is associated with wound healing impairment in T2DM subjects.

Genetic and epigenetic alterations in Toll like receptor 2 and wound healing impairment in type 2 diabetes patients.

AIM: Persistent hyperglycemic microenvironment in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) leads to the development of secondary complications like wound healing impairment. Proper co-ordination of innate immune system plays an integral role in wound healing. Toll like receptors (TLRs) are prominent contributors for the induction of the innate immune and inflammation response. TLR2 is an important extracellular member in mammalian TLR family and has been shown to be a potent player in the wound healing mechanism. METHODS: Expressional status of TLR2 was seen in wounds of T2DM cases with respect to the severity of wounds in 110 human lower extremity wounds. The methylation status of TLR2 promoter was also examined. RESULTS: Although TLR2 transcripts were downregulated in T2DM wounds compared to control, their levels tend to increase with the severity of T2DM wounds. The methylation status of TLR2 gene promoter was not significantly different among different grades of wounds in T2DM subjects. The CpG sites investigated were totally or partially methylated in majority of DFU cases. CONCLUSION: TLR2 down regulation in wounds of T2DM patients compared to non diabetic patients may lead to development of non healing chronic ulcers in them.

Differential Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Gene in Wounds of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Cases With Susceptible -1562C>T Genotypes and Wound Severity.

Coordinated extracellular matrix deposition is a prerequisite for proper wound healing which is mainly orchestrated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Diabetic wounds generally show compromised wound healing cascade and abnormal MMP9 concentration is one of the cause. Our group have recently shown that the polymorphism -1562 C>T in the promoter region of MMP9 gene is associated with pathogenesis of wound healing impairment in T2DM patients. In present study we have done expression profiling of MMP9 gene in the wound biopsy of DFU cases. Expression level of MMP9 mRNA was then compared with susceptible -1562 C>T genotypes (TT and CT) as well as with different grades of wounds. We also screened the promoter region of MMP9 gene to see the methylation state of CpGs present there. Our study suggests that levels of MMP9 mRNA increase significantly with the wound grades. Moreover, the MMP9 levels in diabetic wounds were also dependent on -1562 C>T polymorphism in the promoter region of MMP9. Diabetic wounds also showed a significant unmethylated status of MMP9 promoter compared to control wounds. In conclusion, The risk genotypes of -1562 C>T polymorphism along with lack of methylation of CpG sites in MMP9 gene promoter may result in altered expression of MMP9 in wounds of T2DM cases resulting into nonhealing chronic ulcers in them.