Histopathological characteristics of needle core biopsy and surgical specimens from patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Pathological manifestations of hepatic tumours are often associated with prognosis. Although surgical specimens (SS) can provide more information, currently, pre-treatment needle core biopsy (NCB) is increasingly showing important value in understanding the nature of liver tumors and even in diagnosis and treatment decisions. However, the concordance of the clinicopathological characteristics and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining between NCB and SS from patients with hepatic tumours were less concerned. AIM: To introduce a more accurate method for interpreting the IHC staining results in order to improve the diagnostic value of hepatic malignancy in NCB samples. METHOD: A total of 208 patients who underwent both preoperative NCB and surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) between 2008 and 2015 were enrolled in this study. The expression of CK19, GPC3, and HepPar1 were detected by IHC staining. Clinicopathological, NCB, and surgical data were collected and analysed using χ 2 and kappa statistics. RESULTS: Morphologically, the presence of compact tumour nests or a cord-like structure in NCB was considered the primary cause of misdiagnosis of HCC from ICC. The kappa statistic showed a moderate agreement in histomorphology (k = 0.504) and histological grade (k = 0.488) between NCB and SS of the tumours. A 4-tier (+++, ++, +, and -) scoring scheme that emphasized the focal neoplastic cell immunoreactivity of tumour cells revealed perfect concordance of CK19, GPC3 and HepPar1 between NCB and SS (k = 0.717; k = 0.768; k = 0.633). Furthermore, with the aid of a binary classification derived from the 4-tier score, a high concordance was achieved in interpreting the IHC staining of the three markers between NCB and final SS (k = 0.931; k = 0.907; k = 0.803), increasing the accuracy of NCB diagnosis C (k = 0.987; area under the curve = 0.997, 95%CI: 0.990-1.000; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings imply that reasonable interpretation of IHC results in NCB is vital for improving the accuracy of tumour diagnosis. The simplified binary classification provides an easy and applicable approach.

Pathological characteristics of liver biopsies in eight patients with hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

We aim to investigate the pathological characteristics of liver biopsies and their implications for the prognosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE). Clinical data of eight patients (5 male, 3 female) with HEHE were analyzed retrospectively. Expression of CD34, FVIII, AE1/AE3, Hepa-par1, GPC3, CK19 and the proliferation index marker Ki-67 were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The clinical pathological features and effects of treatment on prognosis were investigated. Among the eight patients, four did not exhibit significant symptoms, while four showed symptoms such as abdominal distension, aversion to greasy food and mild fever. Two patients had single liver lesions, while multiple lesions were observed in six cases, in which the tumor cells exhibited spindle, irregular or epithelioid morphology, with scattered, streaked and nested distribution. Individual luminal cells were also visible, containing red cells and accompanied by mucoid or fibrous stroma. All cases were CD34 positive, one case was FVIII factor negative, two cases were AE1/AE3 positive, Ki-67 staining exceeded 15% in two cases, and nuclear fission was visible in two cases. Patients with nuclear fission and Ki-67 > 15% died within 2 years after artery embolization, liver transplantation without relapse was observed in two cases and one case survived with the tumor. The other patients without cellular atypia, without nuclear fission and with Ki-67 < 10% did not relapse during the 2-5 years of follow-up. HEHE can be diagnosed according to hematoxylin and eosin morphology and immunohistochemical characteristics in biopsies before treatment allowing the selection of different treatment protocols based on pathological characteristics.

[The effect of 5-fluorouracil on enriching cancer stem cells of hepatoma cell line BEL-7402].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) on enriching cancer stem cells of HCC cell line BEL-7402 and the biological characteristics of enriched cells. METHODS: The enriching concentration of 5-FU was determined by CCK-8 (cell counting kit-8). Flow Cytometry was used to determine the changes in cell cycle and positive expression ratio of surface marker CD56, CD54, EpCAM and CD133. The self-renewal and differentiation of positive cells were tested by colony formation assay, and were compared with the control group. RESULTS: Enriching concentration of 5-FU was determined as 10 µg/ml with 48 h incubation. After enrichment, G0/G1 phase cells increased from 57.50 %+/-0.98% to 68.70%+/-3.41% (P<0.05). Whereas S phase cells decreased from 40.26%+/-4.12% to 31.80%+/-4.15% (P<0.01); G2/M phase cells disappeared in experimental group, and was 5.80%+/-1.87% in control group (P<0.01). The proportion of the cell cycle changed with significant statistical differences. Meanwhile, positive rate of cell surface makers CD56, CD54, EpCAM and CD133 increased from 0.57%+/-0.12%, 8.10%+/-6.79%, 0.3%+/-0.01% and 3.20%+/-0.99% to 4.13%+/-0.06%, 50.08%+/-1.69%, 0.55%+/-0.07% and 10.51%+/-1.13%, respectively. The difference was significant (P<0.05). The colony forming ratio of CD56, CD54, EpCAM and CD133 negative cells and positive cells were 2.11%+/-0.21%, 3.32%+/-0.31%; 0.86%+/-0.101%, 2.40%+/-0.52 %; 7.19%+/-0.56%, 7.73%+/-0.71%; 2.70%+/-0.26%, 5.75%+/-0.81%, respectively, and significant differences were found between (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: 5-fluorouracil enriched the cancer stem cell population in HCC cell line BEL-7402. CD56 and CD54 can be used as important surface markers in research of liver cancer stem cells.

[Changes and mechanism of apoptosis-related gene expression in T lymphocytic leukemia JM cells induced with matrine].

This study was purposed to investigate the changes of apoptosis-related gene expression in T lymphocytic leukemia JM cells induced with matrine, and its possible mechanism. JM cells was induced with 0.4 mg/ml matrine for 4 days, the total RNA was extracted from JM cells before and after matrine induction, the differential expression of apoptosis-related genes were screened with cDNA Expression Array Kit, the expression change of a part of gene was checked by Western blot. The results indicated that after induction of JM cells with matrine, differential expression of 31 genes were found by gene chip hybridization, the expression of caspase 8 was up-regulated more than 5 times. Western blot analysis showed that the up-regulation of caspase 8 gene expression positively correlated with induction time. It is concluded that differential expressions of many apoptosis-related genes in JM cells can be induced by matrine, in which gene expression of caspase 8 is up-regulated notably.

Glucosamine sulfate-induced apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells is associated with translocation of cathepsin D and downregulation of Bcl-xL.

Cathepsin D (cat D) reportedly plays an important role in certain apoptotic processes, the downstream pathways of which involve release of cytochrome c (cyt c) from mitochondria and activation of the caspase cascade. Previous studies revealed that the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family members Bax or Bid play important roles in apoptotic signal transduction between cat D and mitochondria. Here, we show that glucosamine sulfate (GS) inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells in vitro. GS interfered with the maturation of cat D. Activation of caspase-3, cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase, release of cyt c, and downregulation of Bcl-xL accompanied GS-induced apoptosis, and these processes were inhibited by the cat D inhibitor pepstatin A. However, we did not detect any altered gene expression of Bcl-2, Bax, or Bid during apoptosis. Translocation of cat D from the lysosome to the cytosol was observed in GS-treated K562 cells. These findings suggest that GS-induced K562 cell apoptosis involves the translocation of cat D from the lysosome to the cytosol. Furthermore, our findings suggest that downregulation of Bcl-xL (but not Bcl-2, Bax, or Bid) connects cat D and the mitochondrial pathway, which causes the release of cyt c and activation of the caspase cascade during GS-induced apoptosis of K562 cells.

[Study on the preparation of resveratrol chitosan nanoparticles with free amino groups on the surface].

OBJECTIVE: To prepare resveratrol chitosan nanoparticles with free amine groups on the surface so as to conjugate ligands, which will actively target to special tissues or organs. METHOD: The chitosan nanoparticles with free amine on the surface was prepared by sodium chloride precipitation. Nanoparticles with different solidification degrees were studied on turbidity, in vitro release, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading and diameter. RESULT: The turbidity of nanoparticles with various solidification degrees decreased at different rates after ultrasonic or water bath heating treatment. All nanoparticles mentioned above obviously shew sustained release. The rate of release was slowed down with the increase of solidification agents. Solidification had no obvious effects on the encapsulation efficiency and drug loading. The diameter of chitosan nanoparticles with 200 microL solidification agents was 487 nm. The polydispersion was 0.144. CONCLUSION: The diameter of the prepared nanoparticles was relatively small. The amine on the surface was free, which offered the possibility of designing the acive target drug delivery system.

[Effects of human fibroblastoid stromal cell line on proliferation of HL-60 cells and expression of VEGF].

To investigate the effects of normal human bone m arrow fibroblastoid stromal cell line (HFCL) on the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60 and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), establishing coculture system of leukemia cell line HL-60 and HFCL, growth data was obtained by cell counting. Mitotic index (MI) was observed under Wright-Giemsa staining. Flow cytometry and Western blot were used as assays for cell cycle and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) separately. VE GF levels were evaluated by using commercial ELISA kits. The results showed that compared with HL-60 cells without HFCL cells, the proliferation of HL-60 cells in direct contact with HFCL cells and with HFCL cells separated by transwell was inhibited. The MI of HL-60 cells without HFCL cells was highest followed by HL-60 cells separated by transwell and HL-60 cells in direct contact with HFCL cells. The expression of PCNA in HL-60 cells with HFCL cells were lower than HL-60 cells without HFCL cells. Meanwhile, the percentage of HL-60 cells in G1 phase cocultured with HFCL cells was higher than that without HFCL cells while the percentage of Sphase cells was lower. The levels of VEGF in HL-60 cells with HFCL cells were lower than that in HL-60 cells alone. In conclusion, the normal bone marrow fibroblastoid stromal cells inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells as well as the expression of VEGF.

[Matrine effects on JM cells by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study effects of matrine on JM cell strain. METHOD: Morphologic changes were observed under light microscope with Wright-Giemsa staining, fluorescence microscope with Hoechst 33,258 staining and electron microscope. Alteration of cell cycle of different dose treating groups at the fourth day and 0.8 mg.mL-1 treatment group at the first, second, third, fourth day was analyzed by Flow cytometry. DNA ladder was detected with gel electrophoresis. RESULT: From the third day after treatment of matrine, typical apoptosis features of cells were observed under light microscope and electron microscope in all test groups, and the features were more prominent with the time prolonging. At fourth day, flow cytometry analysis showed that there were sub-G1 peaks in all groups. From 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 to 0.8 g.L-1 treatment groups, the rate of apoptotic cells to total cells were 3.1%, 2. 5%, 13.3%, 40.4%, 48.6%, respectively, and what in the control group was 1.4%; the rate of S phase cells to total cells was 28.9%, 26.1%, 27.7%, 0.9%, 14.2%, what in the control group was 30.4%; the rate of G1 phase cells to total cells was 63. 2%, 67.5%, 68.1%, 75.2%, 83.6%, what in the control group was 41.8%; From the first, second, third to fourth day, the rate of apoptotic cells to total cells of 0.8 mg.mL-1 treatment group were 3.0%, 3.7%, 9.1%, 48.6%, respectively; the rate of S phase cells to total cells was 28.6%, 17.5%, 19.1%, 14.2%; the rate of G1 phase cells to total cells were 45.5%, 77.3%, 77.2%, 83.6%. Gel electrophoresis displayed "DNA ladder" in 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 g.L-1 groups, while 0.1 and 0.2 g.L-1 groups didn't show such result. CONCLUSION: Matrine can repress DNA synthesis and arrest JM cell strain at G1 phase, sequentially inhibiting the proliferation of the cell. Besides, this alkaloid can induce the apoptosis of JM cells.

[Inclusion bodies of human cytomegalovirus are composed of the DNA and immediately early and early antigens of the virus].

BACKGROUND: To study the composition and significance of the inclusion bodies of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). METHODS: Microdissection of inclusion bodies, PCR and Southern blot were adopted to detect DNA, and immunohistochemistry method and catalyzed signal amplification (CSA) were used to detect the different antigens of HCMV. RESULTS: The inclusion bodies of HCMV were separated from the tissue section of human salivary gland. The fragments amplified by PCR from these dissected inclusion bodies were confirmed to be the DNA of HCMV. With the immunohistochemical method CSA, the immediately early and early antigens of HCMV were detected with monoclonal antibodies DDG9/CCH2, while matrix protein AAC10 was negative in the inclusion bodies. CONCLUSION: The ingredient of inclusion bodies of HCMV included the DNA and the antigens expressed in specific stage of the virus.