TNF-α regulates natriuretic peptides and aquaporins in human bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B.

Postoperative-fluid retention is a severe complication frequently reported in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. The complex network of molecules involved in such a severe surgery-induced condition remains poorly understood. Inflammation has been proposed among the various causes of fluid retention. Since TNF-α is one of the main proinflammatory cytokine initially released after major surgery, it is reasonable to assume its involvement in fluid overload. Here, we showed that TNF-α selectively regulates key molecules involved in fluids balance, such as natriuretic peptides (NPs) and aquaporins, in human bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B. In particular, we found that TNF-α induced a decrease of arial natriuretic peptide, natriuretic peptide receptor-1, aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-5 and an increase of brain natriuretic peptide with a different involvement of nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway activation. Moreover, the observed changes in NPs expression, demonstrate inflammation as an additional cause of brain natriuretic peptide elevation, adding an important piece of information in the novel area of study regarding NPs and inflammation. Finally, we suggest that inflammation is one of the mechanisms of Aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-5 expression regulation. Therefore, in this exploratory study, we speculate that TNF-α might be involved in postoperative-fluid retention related to major surgery.

CA 15-3 cell lines and tissue expression in canine mammary cancer and the correlation between serum levels and tumour histological grade.

BACKGROUND: Mammary tumours are the most common malignancy diagnosed in female dogs and a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in this species. Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 15-3 is a mucinous glycoprotein aberrantly over-expressed in human mammary neoplasms and one of the most widely used serum tumour markers in women with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the antigenic analogies of human and canine CA 15-3 and to assess its expression in canine mammary cancer tissues and cell lines. Immunohistochemical expression of CA 15-3 was evaluated in 7 canine mammary cancer cell lines and 50 malignant mammary tumours. As a positive control, the human breast carcinoma cell line MCF7 and tissue were used. To assess CA 15-3 staining, a semi-quantitative method was applied. To confirm the specificity and cross-reactivity of an anti-human CA 15-3 antibody to canine tissues, an immunoblot analysis was performed. We also investigated serum CA 15-3 activity to establish whether its expression could be assigned to several tumour characteristics to evaluate its potential use as a serum tumour marker in the canine mammary oncology field. RESULTS: Immunocytochemical analysis revealed CA 15-3 expression in all examined canine mammary cancer cell lines, whereas its expression was confirmed by immunoblot only in the most invasive cells (CMT-W1, CMT-W1M, CMT-W2 and CMT-W2M). In the tissue, an immunohistochemical staining pattern was observed in 34 (68%) of the malignant tumours. A high statistical correlation (p = 0.0019) between serum CA 15-3 levels and the degree of tumour proliferation and differentiation was shown, which indicates that the values of this serum marker increase as the tumour stage progresses. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal that CA 15-3 is expressed in both canine mammary tumour cell lines and tissues and that serum levels significantly correlate with the histological grade of the malignancy.

[Postoperative follow-up of gastric adenocarcinoma with neoplastic markers and 18-FDG-PET/TC]. / Follow-up postchirurgico del cancro gastrico mediante markers neoplastici e 18-FDG-PET/TC.

INTRODUCTION: The usefulness of tumour markers CEA, CA19.9 and CA72.4 in association with FDG-PET/TC were prospectively evaluated in the post-operative follow-up of gastric cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty one consecutive patients were enrolled in a follow-up programme entailing with periodical clinical evaluations, instrumental examinations and tumour markers assay FDG-PET/TC was performed only in cases of suspected recurrence. RESULTS: Sensitivity of CEA, CA19.9 e CA72.4 during the follow-up period was respectively: 16%, 33.3% e 50%. Overall sensitivity was 66.6%. Specificity was 100% for CEA, 93.3% for CA19.9, 100% for CA72.4, with an overall specificity of 96.2%. FDG-PET/TC had a sensitivity of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Tumour markers in association with FDG-PET/TC allow an early identification of recurrences after surgery, with the advantage to start chemotherapy or surgical protocols before the tumour has reached an advanced stage.