Toll-like receptor 3 stimulation promotes Ro52/TRIM21 synthesis and nuclear redistribution in salivary gland epithelial cells, partially via type I interferon pathway.

Up-regulated expression of Ro52/tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21), Ro60/TROVE domain family, member 2 (TROVE2) and lupus LA protein/Sjögren's syndrome antigen B (La/SSB) autoantigens has been described in the salivary gland epithelial cells (SGEC) of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). SGECs, the key regulators of autoimmune SS responses, express high levels of surface functional Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3, whereas Ro52/TRIM21 negatively regulates TLR-3-mediated inflammation. Herein, we investigated the effect of TLR-3-signalling on the expression of Ro52/TRIM21, as well as Ro60/TROVE2 and La/SSB autoantigens, by SGECs. The effect of TLR-3 or TLR-4 stimulation on autoantigen expression was evaluated by polyI:C or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, respectively, of SGEC lines (10 from SS patients, 12 from non-SS controls) or HeLa cells, followed by analysis of mRNA and protein expression. PolyI:C, but not LPS, resulted in a two-step induction of Ro52/TRIM21 mRNA expression by SGECs, a 12-fold increment at 6 h followed by a 2.5-fold increment at 24-48 h, whereas it induced a late two-fold up-regulation of Ro60/TROVE2 and La/SSB mRNAs at 48 h. Although protein expression levels were not affected significantly, the late up-regulation of Ro52/TRIM21 mRNA was accompanied by protein redistribution, from nucleolar-like pattern to multiple coarse dots spanning throughout the nucleus. These late phenomena were mediated significantly by interferon (IFN)-ß production, as attested by cognate secretion and specific inhibition experiments and associated with IFN regulatory factor (IRF)3 degradation. TLR-3-signalling had similar effects on SGECs obtained from SS patients and controls, whereas it did not affect the expression of these autoantigens in HeLa cells. TLR-3 signalling regulates the expression of autoantigens by SGECs, implicating innate immunity pathways in their over-expression in inflamed tissues and possibly in their exposure to the immune system.

Biochemical and ultrastructural correlations of calreticulin and thioredoxin expression in breast mucinous carcinoma and infiltrating ductal carcinoma non-special type.

Mucinous infiltrating invasive ductal adenocarcinoma consists of 2-4% invasive breast cancer, but is a very interesting type due to its macroscopic similarity to non-special-type (NST) ductal carcinoma. The macroscopic similarity of mucinous and infiltrating ductal carcinoma NST adenocarcinomas consists of a loose and edematous stroma, which is often seen in portions of NST carcinoma and may mimic the mucin pools of mucinous carcinoma. In this study the authors examined the ultrastructural differences between mucinous carcinoma and infiltrating ductal carcinoma NST. They also examined the protein expression of the tissues by 2D electrophoresis due to their belief that from the results of these two levels it is possible to understand the changes that take place both in the ultrastructural and biochemical levels in these two types of breast cancer. The ultrastructural results from mucinous carcinoma have shown many changes in cytoplasmic organelles in comparison to normal samples, depending on the grade and the number of metastatic lymph nodes. At the 2D elecrophoresis level the authors studied two interesting polypeptides, calreticulin and thioredoxin. Both of these proteins were found in patterns of fibroadenoma, mucinous carcinoma, and NST carcinoma, but with different quantitative expression among them. In the future the quantitative differences of these two proteins may provide specific tumor markers for these two types of carcinoma.

Extra-long projections of the cell surface in nonspecial-type ductal carcinoma with vascular invasion under the scanning electron microscope.

In this study, cell surface projections of primary culture cells from tissues of infiltrating ductal carcinoma Non Special Type with vascular invasion are examined by use of the Scanning Electron Microscopy method. In these cases the projections of cell membrane appeared extremely long and bridge-like covering very long distances between the breast cancer cells. Also, the long cell membrane projections, connect cells between them and form a complex. Sometimes, from one edge to another we observed a very long chain of cancer cells reaching sometimes a length of 3, 3 mm. On the other hand the absence of vascular invasion never shows such long projections of the cell membrane even if there are many metastatic nodes. The role of these extra long projections in communication between cancer cells is determinant. Through this communication, these long projections seemed to be responsible for the metastatic process in primary breast cancer with vascular invasion.

Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of nuclear matrix proteins in human colon adenocarcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to observe possible qualitative and quantitative expression differences between nuclear matrix proteins (NMPs) of human colon adenocarcinoma and their mirror biopsies, using the technique of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, in order to identify the existence of specific NMP fingerprints for colon cancer. Colon tissues were examined ultrastructurally and NMPs were isolated biochemically, by serial extraction of lipids, soluble proteins, DNA, RNA, and intermediate filaments and were separated according to their isoelectric point (pI) and their molecular weight (MW) by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D). By comparing the 2D electropherograms of colon cancer tissues and mirror biopsy tissues we observed qualitative and quantitative expression differences between their NMPs but also a differentiation of NMP composition between the stages of malignancy. Moreover, despite the similarities between mirror biopsy samples, a highlight percentage of exception was observed. Electrophoretic results provided in this study demonstrated that the examined NMPs could be further investigated as potential markers for detection of colorectal cancer in an early stage, for the assessment of the disease progression, as well as useful tools for individual therapy and for preventing a possible recurrence of cancer and metastasis.

Surface topography and ultrastructural changes of mucinous carcinoma breast cells.

Mucinous carcinoma of the breast (MCB) is histologically classified into 2 groups: (1) pure MCB and (2) mixed MCB. Pure MCB carries a better diagnosis than mixed MCB. This research relates to the cell surface topography and ultrastructure of the cells in the above cases and aims to find the differences between them, by means of two methods: scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For the SEM examination, it was necessary to initially culture the MCB tissues and then proceed with the usual SEM method. In contrast, for the TEM technique, MCB tissues were initially fixed followed by the classic TEM method. The authors found the topography of pure MCB cases to be without nodes. The cell membrane was smooth, with numerous pores and small ruffles that covered the entire cell. The ultrastructural appearance of the same cases was with a normal cell membrane containing abundant collagen fibers. They also had many small vesicles containing mucin as well as secretory droplets. In contrast the mixed MCB had a number of lymph nodes and their cell surface topography showed stronger changes such as microvilli, numerous blebs, ruffles and many long projections. Their ultrastructure showed very long microvilli with large cytoplasmic inclusions and extracellular mucin collections, electron-dense material vacuoles, and many important cytoplasmic organelles. An important fact is that mixed MCB also contains areas of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. These cells of the cytoplasmic organelles are clearly responsible for the synthesis, storage, and secretion of the characteristic mucin of this tumor type. Evidently, this abnormal mucin production and the abundance of secretory granules along with the long projections observed in the topographical structure might be responsible for transferring tumor cells to neighboring organs, thus being responsible for metastatic disease.

Surface topography and ultrastructure correlation between human breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma of non special type and coexisting human breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma of non special type with in situ comedo carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To examine the topographical and ultrastructural correlations and differences between breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma (DC) non-special type (NST) and coexisting infiltrating DC NST with in situ comedo, in order to possibly detect differences in their metastatic potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The material examined derived from 22 women with breast cancer. Sixteen breast infiltrating DC NST tissue samples and 6 breast infiltrating DC NST with in situ comedo were studied with primary culture techniques, using transmission and scanning electron microscopy methods. RESULTS: The surface topography from infiltrating DC NST cells showed microvilli, blebs, ruffles, short and long projections. These features were absent in the normal breast cells. The intensity of these features was dependent on several histological characteristics. Also, the above features in coexisting DC NST with in situ comedo were related to more aggressive cases. The findings concerning the surface topography features have been also found in the ultrastructural level. A very interesting point was that these features consisted partly of cytoplasmic material. CONCLUSION: We believe that the presence of the features described above might be related to the metastatic potential of breast cancer and in particular to DC NST with in situ comedo.