No evidence to support the impact of migration background on treatment response rates and cancer survival: a retrospective matched-pair analysis in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Immigration has taken the central stage in world politics, especially in the developed countries like Germany, where the continuous flow of immigrants has been well documented since 1960s. Strikingly, emerging data suggest that migrant patients have a poorer response to the treatment and lower survival rates in their new host country, raising concerns about health disparities. Herein, we present our investigation on the treatment response rate and cancer survival in German patients with and without an immigrant background that were treated at our comprehensive cancer center in Germany. METHODS: Initially, we considered 8162 cancer patients treated at the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), University Hospital Bonn, Germany (April 2002-December 2015) for matched-pair analysis. Subsequently, the German patients with a migration background and those from the native German population were manually identified and catalogued using a highly specific name-based algorithm. The clinical parameters such as demographic characteristics, tumor characteristics, defined staging criteria, and primary therapy were further adjusted. Using these stringent criteria, a total of 422 patients (n = 211, Germans with migration background; n = 211, native German population) were screened to compare for the treatment response and survival rates (i.e., 5-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and time to progression). RESULTS: Compared to the cohort with migration background, the cohort without migration background was slightly older (54.9 vs. 57.9 years) while having the same sex distribution (54.5% vs. 55.0% female) and longer follow-up time (36.9 vs. 42.6 months). We did not find significant differences in cancer survival (5-year overall survival, P = 0.771) and the response rates (Overall Remission Rate; McNemar's test, P = 0.346) between both collectives. CONCLUSION: Contrary to prior reports, we found no significant differences in cancer survival between German patients with immigrant background and native German patients. Nevertheless, the advanced treatment protocols implemented at our comprehensive cancer center may possibly account for the low variance in outcome. To conduct similar studies with a broader perspective, we propose that certain risk factors (country-of-origin-specific infections, dietary habits, epigenetics for chronic diseases etc.) should be considered, specially in the future studies that will recruit new arrivals from the 2015 German refugee crisis.

Higher number of multidisciplinary tumor board meetings per case leads to improved clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND: This analysis aims at evaluating the impact of multidisciplinary tumor boards on clinical outcome of multiple tumor entities, the effect of the specific number of multidisciplinary tumor boards and potential differences between the tumor entities. METHODS: By a matched-pair analysis we compared the response to treatment, overall survival, relapse or disease free survival and progression free survival of patients whose cases were discussed in a tumor board meeting with patients whose cases were not. It was performed with patients registered in the cancer registry of the University of Bonn and diagnosed between 2010 and 2016. After the matching process with a pool of 7262 patients a total of 454 patients with 66 different tumor types were included in this study. RESULTS: First, patients with three or more multidisciplinary tumor board meetings in their history show a significantly better overall survival than patients with no tumor board meeting. Second, response to treatment, relapse free survival and time to progression were not found to be significantly different. Third, there was no significant difference for a specific tumor entity. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a positive impact of a higher number of multidisciplinary tumor boards on the clinical outcome. Also, our analysis hints towards a positive effect of multidisciplinary tumor boards on overall survival.

A matched-pair analysis on survival and response rates between German and non-German cancer patients treated at a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

BACKGROUND: Research shows disparities in cancer outcomes by ethnicity or socio-economic status. Therefore, it is the aim of our study to perform a matched-pair analysis which compares the outcome of German and non-German (in the following described as 'foreign') cancer patients being treated at the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) Köln Bonn at the University Hospital of Bonn between January 2010 and June 2016. METHODS: During this time, 6314 well-documented patients received a diagnosis of cancer. Out of these patients, 219 patients with foreign nationality could be matched to German patients based on diagnostic and demographic criteria and were included in the study. All of these 438 patients were well characterized concerning survival data (Overall survival, Progression-free survival and Time to progression) and response to treatment. RESULTS: No significant differences regarding the patients' survival and response rates were seen when all German and foreign patients were compared. A subgroup analysis of German and foreign patients with head and neck cancer revealed a significantly longer progression-free survival for the German patients. Differences in response to treatment could not be found in this subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, no major differences in survival and response rates of German and foreign cancer patients were revealed in this study. Nevertheless, the differences in progression-free survival, which could be found in the subgroup analysis of patients with head and neck cancer, should lead to further research, especially evaluating the role of infectious diseases like human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) on carcinogenesis and disease progression.

Selective downregulation of retinoic acid-inducible gene I within the intestinal epithelial compartment in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: A defective innate immune response may contribute to the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Employing a global gene expression analysis, this study was aimed at identifying specifically regulated genes within the epithelial compartment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: The epithelial fraction of human ileal mucosa samples from surgical specimens was obtained by laser microdissection. Gene expression was examined by global expression profiling (n = 18, Affymetrix), quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (n = 35), immunoblot analysis (n = 9), and immunohistochemistry (n = 25). RESULTS: Global expression profiling revealed a pronounced downregulation of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) within the epithelial layer of the ileum in patients with CD but not with UC. The downregulation of RIG-I was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR, immunoblot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelial downregulation of RIG-I, a known pattern recognition receptor for viral components, might contribute to alterations of the innate mucosal immune response, particularly in CD.

Laser microdissection of intestinal epithelial cells and downstream analysis.

The intestinal epithelium is at the front line when it comes to preserving mucosal immune homeostasis. There is growing evidence that the epithelium plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Laser captured microdissection techniques offer a promising approach to investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms. This would require reliable protocols for the extraction of high quality RNA from intestinal mucosa samples acquired by laser microdissection. However, such protocols are not around. Therefore our objective was to establish a feasible protocol which supports the study of the involvement of intestinal epithelium in the pathogenesis of IBD.

Reduced hydrophobicity of the colonic mucosal surface in ulcerative colitis as a hint at a physicochemical barrier defect.

PURPOSE: There is increasing evidence that a defect of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier is important for the development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The hydrophobicity of the colonic mucosal surface is a measure of its resistance to luminal antigens, e.g. of bacterial origin. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine this parameter in patients suffering from IBD. METHODS: Nineteen patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), ten patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 20 controls were examined. All underwent colonic surgery at the University Hospital Heidelberg. Clinical disease activity was determined. From every subject, colonic tissue specimens were obtained, and hydrophobicity of the mucosal surface was determined with a goniometer by multiple plateau contact angle measurements. Histological evaluation of disease activity was performed in directly adjacent tissue specimens. RESULTS: Hydrophobicity of the colonic mucosal surface, expressed as plateau contact angles, was significantly reduced in patients with UC (mean ± SEM, 47.8° ± 3.4°) compared to those with CD (72.0° ± 5.2°) and controls (72.5° ± 5.6°; over-all P = 0.0004; UC versus controls, P < 0.001; UC versus CD, P < 0.05; CD versus controls, P > 0.05). Between mucosal hydrophobicity and clinical disease activity, as well as mucosal hydrophobicity and histological disease activity, no significant correlation was found. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a defective physicochemical barrier as an essential factor in the pathogenesis of UC, but not CD. The fact that no correlation was found between mucosal hydrophobicity and disease activity may indicate that the loss of mucosal hydrophobicity in UC is not exclusively a secondary effect due to inflammation.

Sepsis and major abdominal surgery lead to flaking of the endothelial glycocalix.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that the endothelial glycocalix plays an important role in lethal outcomes following sepsis. We therefore tested if the endothelial glycocalix is shed in patients with sepsis compared with patients after major abdominal surgery and healthy volunteers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 150 individuals were tested for levels of inflammatory markers (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1], interleukin-6 [IL-6]) and glycocalix markers (syndecan-1, heparan sulfate). Three groups consisted of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, patients after major abdominal surgery without systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and healthy volunteers. Blood was drawn, at the time of diagnosis or surgery, and 6, 24, and 48h later. We correlated these markers to each other and to clinically used inflammation markers. RESULTS: Levels of inflammatory markers were markedly higher in patients with sepsis compared with patients after major abdominal surgery and healthy volunteers. After major abdominal surgery, glycocalix markers in human plasma were at levels comparable to patients with sepsis. In patients with sepsis, levels of IL-6 correlated with syndecan-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and lactate, while ICAM-1 furthermore correlated with CRP and lactate levels. CONCLUSION: High levels of glycocalix markers indicated that significant flaking of the endothelial glycocalix occurred in patients with sepsis, and to a lesser extent in patients after major abdominal surgery. This novel finding could explain the nonspecific capillary leaking syndrome of patients with sepsis and after major abdominal surgery, and may identify new targets for treating those patient populations.

Central sympatholytics prolong survival in experimental sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: One of the main causes of death in European and US intensive care units is sepsis. It involves a network of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6. Furthermore, there is an up regulation of transcription factors such as nuclear factor (NF) kappaB. It has previously been shown that clonidine is able to significantly reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines in surgical patients. We therefore hypothesise that the clinically used central alpha-2 agonist clonidine has the ability to improve survival in experimental sepsis by inhibiting the sympathetic tone and consequently inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokine release. METHODS: To investigate this therapeutic potential of clonidine in a prospective randomised laboratory investigation we used a murine model of caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) induced sepsis. Animals receiving pre-emptive injections were treated with either clonidine (5 microg/kg) or dexmedetomidine (40 microg/kg) 12 and 1 hours before the operation, as well as 1, 6 and 12 hours afterwards. Another group of animals only received clonidine (5 microg/kg) 1, 6 and 12 hours after the operation, while the pre-emptive injections were normal saline. The control groups received solvent injections at the respective time points. RESULTS: Pre-emptive administration of a central sympatholytic significantly reduced mortality (clonidine: p = 0.015; dexmedetomidine: p = 0.029), although postoperative administration of clonidine failed to significantly prolong survival. Furthermore pre-emptive administration of clonidine significantly attenuated the cytokine response after CLP-induced sepsis (mIL-1beta: p = 0.017; mIL-6: p < 0.0001; mTNF-alpha: p < 0.0001), preserved blood pressure control (p = 0.024) and down-regulated the binding activity of NF-kappaB. There were no changes in the pro-inflammatory cytokine response when peripheral blood was incubated with lipopolysaccharide alone compared with incubation with clonidine (10-4 M) plus LPS (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the pre-emptive administration of either clonidine or dexmedetomidine have the ability to successfully improve survival in experimental sepsis. Furthermore, there seems to be a connection between the central muscarinic network and the vagal cholinergic response. By down-regulating pro-inflammatory mediators sympatholytics may be a useful adjunct sedative in patients with a high risk for developing sepsis.

The adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-9-[2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl]-adenine decreases intestinal permeability and protects against experimental sepsis: a prospective, randomised laboratory investigation.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of septic conditions in critically ill patients is still one of medicine's major challenges. Cyclic nucleotides, adenosine and its receptors play a pivotal role in the regulation of inflammatory responses and in limiting inflammatory tissue destruction. The aim of this study was to verify the hypothesis that adenosine deaminase-1 and cyclic guanosine monophosphate-stimulated phosphodiesterase inhibition by erythro-9-[2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl]-adenine could be beneficial in experimental endotoxicosis/sepsis. METHOD: We used two established animal models for endotoxicosis and sepsis. Twenty-four male Wistar rats that had been given intravenous endotoxin (Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide) were treated with either erythro-9-[2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl]-adenine infusion or 0.9% saline during a study length of 120 minutes. Sepsis in 84 female C57BL/6 mice was induced by caecal ligation and puncture. Animals were treated with repeated erythro-9-[2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl]-adenine injections after 0, 12 and 24 hours or 4, 12 and 24 hours for delayed treatment. RESULTS: In endotoxaemic rats, intestinal production of hypoxanthine increased from 9.8 +/- 90.2 micromol/l at baseline to 411.4 +/- 124.6 micromol/l and uric acid formation increased from 1.5 +/- 2.3 mmol/l to 13.1 +/- 2.7 mmol/l after 120 minutes. In endotoxaemic animals treated with erythro-9-[2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl]-adenine, we found no elevation of adenosine metabolites. The lactulose/L-rhamnose ratio (14.3 versus 4.2 in control animals; p = 2.5 x 10(-7)) reflects a highly permeable small intestine and through the application of erythro-9-[2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl]-adenine, intestinal permeability could be re-established. The lipopolysaccharide animals had decreased L-rhamnose/3-O-methyl-D-glucose urine excretion ratios. Erythro-9-[2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl]-adenine reduced this effect. The mucosa damage score of the septic animals was higher compared with control and therapy animals (p < 0.05). Septic shock induction by caecal ligation and puncture resulted in a 160-hour survival rate of about 25%. In contrast, direct adenosine deaminase-1 inhibition resulted in a survival rate of about 75% (p = 0.0018). A protective effect was still present when erythro-9-[2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl]-adenine treatment was delayed for four hours (55%, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: We present further evidence of the beneficial effects achieved by administering erythro-9-[2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl]-adenine, an adenosine deaminase-1 and cyclic guanosine monophosphate-stimulated phosphodiesterase inhibitor, in an endotoxicosis and sepsis animal model. This suggests a potential therapeutic option in the treatment of septic conditions.

Decoy receptor 3 is a prognostic factor in renal cell cancer.

BACKGROUND: Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is a soluble protein that binds to and inactivates the death ligand CD95L. Here, we studied a possible association between DcR3 expression and prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). METHODS: A tissue microarray containing RCC tumor tissue samples and corresponding normal tissue samples was generated. Decoy receptor 3 expression in tumors of 560 patients was examined by immunohistochemistry. The effect of DcR3 expression on disease-specific survival and progression-free survival was assessed using univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Decoy receptor 3 serum levels were determined by ELISA. FINDINGS: High DcR3 expression was associated with high-grade (P = .005) and high-stage (P = .048) RCCs. The incidence of distant metastasis (P = .03) and lymph node metastasis (P = .002) was significantly higher in the group with high DcR3 expression. Decoy receptor 3 expression correlated negatively with disease-specific survival (P < .001) and progression-free survival (P < .001) in univariate analyses. A multivariate Cox regression analysis retained DcR3 expression as an independent prognostic factor that outperformed the Karnofsky performance status. In patients with high-stage RCCs expressing DcR3, the 2-year survival probability was 25%, whereas in patients with DcR3-negative tumors, the survival probability was 65% (P < .001). Moreover, DcR3 serum levels were significantly higher in patients with high-stage localized disease (P = .007) and metastatic disease (P = .001). INTERPRETATION: DcR3 expression is an independent prognostic factor of RCC progression and mortality. Therefore, the assessment of DcR3 expression levels offers valuable prognostic information that could be used to select patients for adjuvant therapy studies.

First evidence for an association of a functional variant in the microRNA-510 target site of the serotonin receptor-type 3E gene with diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a complex disorder related to dysfunctions in the serotonergic system. As cis-regulatory variants can play a role in the etiology of complex conditions, we investigated the untranslated regions (UTRs) of the serotonin receptor type 3 subunit genes HTR3A and HTR3E. Mutation analysis was carried out in a pilot sample of 200 IBS patients and 100 healthy controls from the UK. The novel HTR3E 3'-UTR variant c.*76G>A (rs62625044) was associated with female IBS-D (P = 0.033, OR = 8.53). This association was confirmed in a replication study, including 119 IBS-D patients and 195 controls from Germany (P = 0.0046, OR = 4.92). Pooled analysis resulted in a highly significant association of c.*76G>A with female IBS-D (P = 0.0002, OR = 5.39). In a reporter assay, c.*76G>A affected binding of miR-510 to the HTR3E 3'-UTR and caused elevated luciferase expression. HTR3E and miR-510 co-localize in enterocytes of the gut epithelium as shown by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR. This is the first example indicating micro RNA-related expression regulation of a serotonin receptor gene with a cis-regulatory variant affecting this regulation and appearing to be associated with female IBS-D.

High-mobility group box-1 in ischemia-reperfusion injury of the heart.

BACKGROUND: High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear factor released by necrotic cells and by activated immune cells. HMGB1 signals via members of the toll-like receptor family and the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Although HMGB1 has been implicated in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of the liver and lung, its role in I/R injury of the heart remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we demonstrate that HMGB1 acts as an early mediator of inflammation and organ damage in I/R injury of the heart. HMGB1 levels were already elevated 30 minutes after hypoxia in vitro and in ischemic injury of the heart in vivo. Treatment of mice with recombinant HMGB1 worsened I/R injury, whereas treatment with HMGB1 box A significantly reduced infarct size and markers of tissue damage. In addition, HMGB1 inhibition with recombinant HMGB1 box A suggested an involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinases jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, as well as the nuclear transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB in I/R injury. Interestingly, infarct size and markers of tissue damage were not affected by administration of recombinant HMGB1 or HMGB1 antagonists in RAGE(-/-) mice, which demonstrated significantly reduced damage in reperfused hearts compared with wild-type mice. Coincubation studies using recombinant HMGB1 in vitro induced an inflammatory response in isolated macrophages from wild-type mice but not in macrophages from RAGE(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: HMGB1 plays a major role in the early event of I/R injury by binding to RAGE, resulting in the activation of proinflammatory pathways and enhanced myocardial injury. Therefore, blockage of HMGB1 might represent a novel therapeutic strategy in I/R injury.

Fragment reconstruction of coronary arteries using transesophageal echocardiography for coronary diagnostics.

AIMS: Ultrasound differs procedurally from the established methods for non-invasive coronary visualization and is therefore an interesting alternative for non-invasive diagnostics. In this study, fragment reconstruction of coronary arteries by transesophageal echocardiography (FRC-TEE) was investigated for the first time in a patient population being evaluated for coronary angiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ultrasonic and angiographic findings were compared visually and using quantitative measurements in 50 patients. One hundred and seventy-one vessels were examined by FRC-TEE. The total lengths visualized were 9.6 +/- 1.7 cm for the right coronary artery, 7.0 +/- 1.1 cm for left circumflex, 3.9 +/- 1.2 cm for left anterior descending (LAD), and 1.5 +/- 0.8 cm for the left main coronary artery. There was high concordance between results of both procedures. Sixty-three stenoses were detected using FRC-TEE. The mean difference in degree of stenosis between techniques was 0.2 +/- 5.1%. Stents could be visualized in 19 segments. FRC-TEE detected distal stenoses of the coronary arteries to only a limited extent: 14 stenoses and 2 stents, predominantly in the LAD artery (n = 13), were not identified. CONCLUSIONS: FRC-TEE is a potential method for diagnosing coronary artery disease. FRC-TEE and angiography yield comparable findings during the evaluation of coronary lesions. Further investigations are needed to verify the encouraging findings and define FRC-TEE's applications.

Clonality of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) and metachronous invasive breast cancer.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) of the breast is generally considered an indicator for a bilaterally increased risk of invasive breast cancer (IBC). However, as recent studies suggested a clonal relationship between a subset of synchronous LCIS and invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC), we aimed to examine a possible precursor role for LCIS and IBC occurring in the same breast at a later time. Out of a consecutive series of 88 LCIS, nine patients developed IBC (5 ILC and 4 invasive ductal carcinomas) between 2 and 10 years after initial biopsy. For each case, mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy was analyzed in normal mammary gland epithelia, LCIS and IBC by PCR, direct DNA sequencing and phylogenetic tree clustering. Two cases of LCIS and ILC showed identical patterns of heteroplasmy. In one further case, additional mtDNA mutations were present in the ILC following LCIS. The remaining two cases of ILC and all 4 IDC were clonally unrelated to the previously diagnosed LCIS. While the overall risk for the development of invasive breast cancer following LCIS is relatively low and the majority of cases are clonally unrelated, our data clearly show that some LCIS eventually do progress to ILC. Thus, LCIS represents both an indicator lesion for an increased risk of subsequent invasive breast cancer and in some cases a precursor of ILC.

A prominent role for mucosal cystine/cysteine metabolism in intestinal immunoregulation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: T-cell receptor reactivity of intestinal lamina propria T cells (LP-T) critically depends on the capacity of local accessory cells to secrete cysteine. For T cells, cysteine is the limiting precursor for glutathione synthesis, a prerequisite for antigen-dependent proliferation. We aimed to determine the role of the redoxactive microenvironment for hyporeactivity of LP-T in normal human gut vs hyperreactivity of LP-T in inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Parameters relevant to cysteine production, determined as acid-soluble thiol, by intestinal lamina propria macrophages (LP-MO) vs peripheral blood monocytes were investigated (L-[(35)S]cystine uptake via system x(c)(-), messenger RNA, and protein expression of the cystine transporter subunit xCT). Glutathione levels in LP-T and peripheral blood T cells were analyzed both spectrophotometrically and by immunofluorescent staining in situ and in vitro. RESULTS: LP-MO from normal gut, unlike peripheral blood monocytes, are unable to take up cystine, which is due to a deficient expression of the transporter xCT in situ and in vitro. As a consequence, LP-MO do not secrete cysteine. The glutathione content in LP-T from normal gut is <50% of that in autologous peripheral blood T cells. In contrast, in inflammatory bowel disease, CD14(+)CD68(+) LP-MO express xCT and secrete substantial amounts of cysteine upon stimulation, which results in high glutathione levels and full T-cell receptor reactivity in LP-T. CONCLUSIONS: The antioxidative microenvironment of LP-T in inflammatory bowel disease and the prooxidative microenvironment in normal gut explain the differential T-cell receptor reactivities.

Regulation of enterocyte apoptosis by acyl-CoA synthetase 5 splicing.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The constant renewal of enterocytes along the crypt-villus axis (CVA) of human small intestine is due to cell-inherent changes resulting in the apoptotic cell death of senescent enterocytes. The aim of the present study was to examine underlying molecular mechanisms of the cell death at the villus tip. METHODS: Characterization of human acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase 5 (ACSL5) was performed by cloning, recombinant protein expression, biochemical approaches, and several functional and in situ analyses. RESULTS: Our data show that different amounts of acyl-CoA synthetase 5-full length (ACSL5-fl) and a so far unknown splice variant lacking exon 20 (ACSL5-Delta 20) are found in human enterocytes. In contrast with the splice variant ACSL5-Delta 20, recombinant and purified ACSL5-fl protein is active at a highly alkaline pH. Over expression of ACSL5-fl protein is associated with a decrease of the anti-apoptotic FLIP protein in a ceramide-dependent manner and an increased cell-surface expression of the death receptor TRAIL-R1. Expression analyses revealed that the ACSL5-fl/ACSL5-Delta 20 ratio increases along the CVA, thereby sensitizing ACSL5-fl-dominated cells at the villus tip to the death ligand TRAIL, which is corroborated by functional studies with human small intestinal mucosal samples and an immortalized human small intestinal cell line. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest an ACSL5-dependent regulatory mechanism that contributes to the cellular renewal along the CVA in human small intestine. Deregulation of the ACSL5-fl/ACSL5-Delta 20 homeostasis in the maturation and shedding of cells along the CVA might also be of relevance for the development of intestinal neoplasia.

Pathology of the large intestine in patients with vascular type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

The vascular type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (type IV) is an infrequent disease caused by heterozygous germline mutations in the procollagen 3A gene (COL3A1). Clinical signs include characteristic facial features, easy bruising, and a translucent skin. These signs are less obvious than the hyperflexibility of skin and joints seen in other types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Therefore, diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV is usually not considered until complications have occurred. Complications include spontaneous ruptures of vessels and hollow organs, particularly the colon. We, herein, report pathologic findings in colon specimens from related Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV patients. Thorough examination revealed abnormalities of the large bowel architecture including abrupt changes in the caliber of the lamina muscularis, secondary diverticula formation, and strongly reduced expression of abnormal collagen 3. These findings are not seen in other diseases of the colon and should prompt the pathologist to include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV in the differential diagnosis of spontaneous bowel perforation in younger patients.

Basal caspase activity promotes migration and invasiveness in glioblastoma cells.

Glioblastomas, the most malignant of all brain tumors, are characterized by cellular resistance to apoptosis and a highly invasive growth pattern. These factors contribute to the poor response of glioblastomas to radiochemotherapy and prevent their complete neurosurgical resection. However, the driving force behind the distinct motility of glioma cells is only partly understood. Here, we report that in the absence of cellular stress and proapoptotic stimuli, human glioblastoma cells exhibit a constitutive activation of caspases in vivo and in vitro. The inhibition of caspases by various peptide inhibitors decreases the migration of cells in scrape motility assays and the invasiveness of cells in spheroid assays. Similarly, specific small interfering RNA- or antisense-mediated down-regulation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 results in an inhibition of the migratory potential of glioma cells. The constitutive caspase-dependent motility of glioblastoma cells is independent of CD95 activation and it is not mediated by mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase signaling. The basal caspase activity is accompanied by a constant cleavage of the motility-associated gelsolin protein, which may contribute to the caspase-mediated promotion of migration and invasiveness in glioblastoma cells. Our results suggest that the administration of low doses of caspase inhibitors that block glioma cell motility without affecting the execution of apoptotic cell death may be exploited as a novel strategy for the treatment of glioblastomas.

Transdermal photodynamic therapy--a treatment option for rheumatic destruction of small joints?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Synovectomy of small joints is a therapeutic approach in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined the feasibility of transdermal photodynamic therapy (tPDT) in a fibroblast-induced model of joint destruction using the novel photosensitizer (PS) tetrahydroporphyrin-tetratosylat that shows strong absorption at the near infra-red spectral region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The functionality of the PDT system was assessed in vitro. Following arthritis induction and PS application, tPDT was applied in vivo. Therapy results were evaluated by measuring joint swelling, serum amyloid A (SAA) and histologically. RESULTS: We were able to present a fully functional PDT in vitro. The in vivo therapy modalities were well tolerated by mice. We could demonstrate photodynamic ablation of subcutaneously located tissue (skeletal muscle) without skin damage. CONCLUSION: This study provides the basis for transdermal accessibility of tissue through a photodynamic process which may serve as a minimally invasive synovectomy strategy.

Expression of chemokine receptors in normal and inflamed human intestine, tonsil, and liver--an immunohistochemical analysis with new monoclonal antibodies from the 8th international workshop and conference on human leucocyte differentiation antigens.

Chemokines are important mediators involved in the recruitment of leucocytes to lymphoid tissues and to sites of inflammation. To identify suitable monoclonal antibodies for immunohistochemistry, we tested a panel of new reagents provided by the cytokine/chemokine receptor section of the 8th HLDA workshop on cryostat sections of normal human gut, tonsil, and liver. In addition, inflamed intestinal tissues from individuals with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were analysed. Our results reveal an upregulated expression of chemokine receptors like CCR6, CCR7, CCR9, CXCR1, and CXCR3 in inflamed gut. Enhanced expression of such molecules likely contributes to the maintenance of inflammation in chronic inflammatory bowel disease.