Total tumour volume as a prognostic factor in patients with resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Although total tumour volume (TTV) may have prognostic value for hepatic resection in certain solid cancers, its importance in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) remains unexplored. This study investigated its prognostic value in patients with resectable CRLM. METHOD: This was a retrospective review of patients who underwent hepatic resection for CRLM between 2008 and 2017 in a single institution. TTV was measured from CT images using three-dimensional construction software; cut-off values were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Potential prognostic factors, overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were determined using multivariable and Kaplan-Meier analyses. RESULTS: Some 94 patients were included. TTV cut-off values for OS and RFS were 100 and 10 ml respectively. Right colonic primary tumours, primary lymph node metastasis and bilobar liver metastasis were included in the multivariable analysis of OS; a TTV of 100 ml or above was independently associated with poorer OS (hazard ratio (HR) 6·34, 95 per cent c.i. 2·08 to 17·90; P = 0·002). Right colonic primary tumours and primary lymph node metastasis were included in the RFS analysis; a TTV of 10 ml or more independently predicted poorer RFS (HR 1·90, 1·12 to 3·57; P = 0·017). The 5-year OS rate for a TTV of 100 ml or more was 41 per cent, compared with 67 per cent for a TTV below 100 ml (P = 0·006). Corresponding RFS rates with TTV of 10 ml or more, or less than 10 ml, were 14 and 58 per cent respectively (P = 0·009). A TTV of at least 100 ml conferred a higher rate of unresectable initial recurrences (12 of 15, 80 per cent) after initial hepatic resection. CONCLUSION: TTV was associated with RFS and OS after initial hepatic resection for CRLM; TTV of 100 ml or above was associated with a higher rate of unresectable recurrence.

ANTECEDENTES: Aunque el volumen total del tumor (total tumour volume, TTV) puede tener valor pronóstico tras la resección hepática (hepatic resection, HR) en algunas neoplasias sólidas, no se conoce su importancia en las metástasis hepáticas de cáncer colorrectal (colorectal liver metastases, CRLMs). Este estudio analizó el valor pronóstico del TTV en pacientes con CRLMs resecables. MÉTODOS: Revisión retrospectiva de pacientes a los que se realizó una HR por CRLMs entre 2008 y 2017 en un solo centro. El TTV se estimó a partir de imágenes de tomografía computarizada utilizando un programa de reconstrucción 3D; se determinaron los valores de corte mediante un análisis de las características operativas del receptor. Se identificaron los posibles factores pronósticos y se calcularon la supervivencia global (overall survival, OS) y la supervivencia libre de recidiva (recurence-free survival, RFS) mediante análisis multivariados y de Kaplan-Meier. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 94 pacientes. Los valores de corte del TTV para la OS y la RFS fueron de 100 mL y 10 mL, respectivamente. En el análisis multivariable para la OS, se incluyeron los tumores del colon derecho, las metástasis linfáticas primarias y la metástasis hepática bilobar; un TTV ≥ 100 mL se asoció de forma independiente con una peor OS (cociente de riesgos instantáneos, hazard ratio, HR, 6,34, i.c. del 95% 2,08-17,9; P = 0,002). En el anáisis para la RFS, se incluyeron tumores primarios de colon derecho y las metástasis linfáticas primarias; un TTV ≥ 10 mL predijo de forma independiente una peor RFS (HR 1,90, i.c. del 95% 1,12-3,57; P = 0,017). Las tasas de OS a los 5 años con TTVs ≥ 100 mL versus < 100 mL fueron del 41% versus 67% (P = 0,006); las tasas de RFS respecto a TTVs ≥ 10 mL versus < 10 mL fueron del 14% versus 58% (P = 0,009). Un TTV ≥ 100 mL conllevó una tasa más elevada (80%) de recidivas no resecables después de la HR inicial. CONCLUSIÓN: El TTV se asoció con la RFS y la OS tras la HR por CRLMs; unos valores ≥ 100 mL conllevan una tasa más elevada de recidiva irresecable.

BMI is associated with larger index tumors and worse outcome after radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on tumor characteristics and biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PCa) in Japanese men. METHODS: We evaluated data from consecutive patients who had undergone RP. Data analyzed included age, preoperative serum PSA, prostatic volume, BMI (continuous or categorized (≤ 25 kg/m(2)) values), clinical and pathological findings including index tumor volume (ITV), and current status in areas such as smoker or nonsmoker and presence or absence of diabetes. We analyzed association between BMI and BCR, especially based on ITV using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We analyzed data from a total of 703 patients. The median follow-up time was 38.4 months. BCR was diagnosed in 154 patients (21.9%) at a median of 9.7 months postoperatively. Multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for preoperative variables showed a significant positive association between BMI and ITV (continuous BMI: P=0.002; categorical BMI: P<0.001, respectively), especially for higher-grade tumors (Gleason score ≥ 7). Cox proportional hazards analysis showed a significant association between continuous BMI and BCR after surgery (preoperative variables, hazard ratio (HR) 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.16, P=0.008), independent of clinical and pathological findings. In patients with high-risk cancer, the positive association between BMI and BCR was strengthened (preoperative variables, continuous BMI, HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07-1.26, P<0.001; categorical BMI, HR 2.11, 95% CI 1.29-3.45, P=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Greater BMI significantly correlates with higher rates of BCR after surgery; BMI is a preoperative variable associated with high-grade ITV. Our results suggest that the biological environment created by greater BMI may contribute to increasing tumor aggressiveness.

CCL-1 in the spinal cord contributes to neuropathic pain induced by nerve injury.

Cytokines such as interleukins are known to be involved in the development of neuropathic pain through activation of neuroglia. However, the role of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 1 (CCL-1), a well-characterized chemokine secreted by activated T cells, in the nociceptive transmission remains unclear. We found that CCL-1 was upregulated in the spinal dorsal horn after partial sciatic nerve ligation. Therefore, we examined actions of recombinant CCL-1 on behavioural pain score, synaptic transmission, glial cell function and cytokine production in the spinal dorsal horn. Here we show that CCL-1 is one of the key mediators involved in the development of neuropathic pain. Expression of CCL-1 mRNA was mainly detected in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion, and the expression of specific CCL-1 receptor CCR-8 was upregulated in the superficial dorsal horn. Increased expression of CCR-8 was observed not only in neurons but also in microglia and astrocytes in the ipsilateral side. Recombinant CCL-1 injected intrathecally (i.t.) to naive mice induced allodynia, which was prevented by the supplemental addition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK-801. Patch-clamp recordings from spinal cord slices revealed that application of CCL-1 transiently enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission in the substantia gelatinosa (lamina II). In the long term, i.t. injection of CCL-1 induced phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunit, NR1 and NR2B, in the spinal cord. Injection of CCL-1 also upregulated mRNA level of glial cell markers and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6). The tactile allodynia induced by nerve ligation was attenuated by prophylactic and chronic administration of neutralizing antibody against CCL-1 and by knocking down of CCR-8. Our results indicate that CCL-1 is one of the key molecules in pathogenesis, and CCL-1/CCR-8 signaling system can be a potential target for drug development in the treatment for neuropathic pain.

Effect of allergen sensitization on external root resorption.

In orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), we should be concerned about external root resorption (ERR) as an undesirable iatrogenic problem, but its mechanisms are not fully understood. Since our previous epidemiologic studies found that patients with allergic diseases showed higher rates of ERR during orthodontic treatment, we explored the possible effect of allergic sensitization on ERR. In ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized Brown-Norway rats, the amounts of ERR and OTM were greater than those in animals subjected to orthodontic force alone. The expression levels of RANKL and pro-inflammatory cytokines were increased in the periodontal tissues of sensitized rats with OTM, compared with control rats. Furthermore, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a potent lipid mediator of allergic inflammation, and enzymes of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway, the biosynthetic pathway of leukotrienes, were also up-regulated. We found that low doses of aspirin suppressed ERR in allergen-sensitized rats, as well as the expressions of RANKL, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and LTB4. The present findings indicate that allergen sensitization has adverse effects on ERR under OTM, and that aspirin is a potential therapeutic agent for combating ERR.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer: experience with 111 consecutive patients demonstrating comorbidity.

AIM: The outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with comorbidities were examined to determine the technical feasibility and safety of this procedure. METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2007, 111 consecutive patients with suspected stage I lung cancer, who individually had one or more comorbidities cited in the modified Kaplan-Feinstein Index, were scheduled for a video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. The demographic, perioperative, and outcome variables were assessed. RESULTS: One hundred of 111 patients had non-small cell lung cancer. Ninety-nine patients underwent successful video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies, while there was one conversion because of a hemorrhage from the pulmonary artery in the early stage. Including this one conversion, no patients required a blood transfusion during surgery or postoperatively. There were no intraoperative or in-hospital deaths. No complications occurred in 78 (78.8%) of 99 patients. Only one patient (1.0%) with a Kaplan-Feinstein Index Score of severe grade contracted pneumonia indicating grade 3 (severe), whereas the remaining 20 patients had grade 1 (mild) or 2 (moderate) complications. At a median follow-up of 40 months, the overall 3-year survival rates for postoperative stage IA (N.=52); IB (N.=26); and II or more (N.=21) were 100%; 78%; and 71%, respectively. CONCLUSION: A video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is therefore considered to be a feasible and safe procedure for clinical stage I NSCLC even in patients with comorbidities.

T cell-specific overexpression of interleukin-27 receptor α subunit (WSX-1) prevents spontaneous skin inflammation in MRL/lpr mice.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-27 and WSX-1, the receptor α-specific subunit, have been shown to play important roles in initiating Th1 responses and in inducing immune modulation, and the immunosuppressive effect of IL-27 appears to be exerted via suppression of IL-10 and IL-17, which may participate in the pathogenesis of human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). OBJECTIVES: To examine the significance of IL-27/WSX-1 signalling in spontaneous skin inflammation of MRL/lpr mice, a model for SLE. METHODS: The severity and development of skin lesions, dermal inflammatory cells and epidermal-dermal depositions in the skin lesions of MRL/lpr mice with CD2-promoted WSX-1 overexpression (WSX-1 Tg mice) and those with globally disrupted WSX-1 (WSX-1 KO mice) were examined and compared with those of MRL/lpr mice. RESULTS: By 4 months of age, both WSX-1 KO mice and control MRL/lpr mice developed predominantly similar skin inflammation, while WSX-1 Tg mice hardly did so, demonstrating that intensifying IL-27/WSX-1 signalling on T cells prevents the spontaneous skin inflammation. WSX-1 KO mice showed Th2-type skin inflammation as evidenced by the Th2-prone dermal infiltrating cells and an absence of cutaneous Th1-type IgG deposition. Interestingly, there were significant IL-17+ dermal infiltrating cells in both WSX-1 KO and control MRL/lpr mice, which might potentially contribute to the formation of skin inflammation in these mice. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that IL-27/WSX-1 signalling may play a protective role in the development of SLE-like skin inflammation, and modulating IL-27/WSX-1 signalling might be an interesting therapeutic strategy in the treatment of SLE.

Oral epithelial cells are activated via TRP channels.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels are critical contributors to the perception of various environmental stimuli. Although the oral cavity is the access point for various food types, the expression of TRP channels in oral mucosa remains unknown. We hypothesized that the oral epithelium itself may participate in sensing thermal, mechanical, and chemical conditions. The expression profiles of TRP channels exhibited regional differences among the buccal, palatal, and tongue epithelia. Changes in elevated intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in oral epithelial cells were found after stimulation of the TRP channels with capsaicin, camphor, 4α-phorbol-12,13 didecanoate (4α-PDD), 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), and menthol. These increases in Ca(2+) appeared dependent on the TRP channels, because [Ca(2+)](i) suppression was observed after the addition of the TRPV channel antagonist ruthenium red. These results demonstrate that the oral epithelia express various TRP channels and may have functional roles in sensory activities, together with neurons.

Immunohistochemical analysis of the mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway in extramammary Paget's disease.

BACKGROUND: We have previously observed that persistent activation of the serine/threonine kinase, protein kinase B (AKT) is a frequent event in extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD). AKT promotes cell proliferation by its ability to coordinate mitogenic signalling with energy- and nutrient-sensing pathways that control protein synthesis through the atypical serine/threonine kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). CDK2, a member of the serine/threonine kinase family of cyclin-dependent kinases, is a key regulator of G(1)-S cell cycle progression, and has recently been shown to be one of the targets of AKT. The AKT-mTOR-p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) pathway has been described in some human malignancies, but not in EMPD. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunohistochemical staining of the AKT-mTOR-p70S6K pathway in EMPD and to evaluate the relationships among the components. METHODS: Samples of primary EMPD tissue were subjected to immunohistological staining with phosphorylated (p)-AKT, p-mTOR, p-4E-binding protein 1 (p-4EBP1), p-p70S6K/S6K1, p-ribosomal protein S6 (p-S6) and CDK2. Ten normal skin samples served as a control. RESULTS: Of the 32 EMPD tissue samples, 29, 27, 26, 29, 26 and 32 samples were positive for p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-4EBP1, p-p70S6K/S6K1, p-S6 and CDK2 staining, respectively. All these cell signalling molecules showed higher positivity in invasive EMPD than in EMPD in situ. There were significant correlations between p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-4EBP1, p-p70S6K/S6K1 and p-S6 and CDK2. CONCLUSIONS: The activation of the AKT-mTOR-p70S6K pathway may play an important role in the pathogenesis of EMPD. The high expression of the components of the pathway was highly correlated with CDK2 expression, suggesting that the AKT/mTOR pathway may induce the malignant transition through CDK2 in EMPD. The AKT-mTOR-p70S6K pathway might be a potential therapeutic target in EMPD.

The role of immune cells in brain metastasis of lung cancer cells and neuron-tumor cell interaction.

Following any type of brain injury such as lesion, stroke, and tumor/cancer invasion, microglia are rapidly activated and recruited to the site of injury. Microglia is the main immune effector cell population of the central nervous system and control immune cell recruitment. However, the molecular mechanism of brain metastasis and interaction between neuron-glia-tumor cells are poorly understood. Therefore, we established an animal model for brain metastasis using human lung cancer-derived cells (HARA-B) in nude mice. Accumulation of activated microglia was observed around tumor cells depending on the size of metastatic foci and the area of the brain. In vitro study, conditioned medium from primary cultured mouse microglia inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells, while tumor cell-conditioned medium inhibited the proliferation of primary cultured neurons from mouse cortex. Though the responsible factors released from microglia and tumor cells are still under investigation, these studies will contribute to understand the mechanism of cell-cell interaction in the brain and possible therapeutic target for brain metastasis.

Human TSLP and TLR3 ligands promote differentiation of Th17 cells with a central memory phenotype under Th2-polarizing conditions.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND" Human thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is expressed in the human asthmatic lung and activates dendritic cells (DCs) to strongly induce proallergic T-helper type 2 (Th2) cell responses, suggesting that TSLP plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of human asthma. Th2 cells are predominantly involved in mild asthma, whereas a mixture of Th1 and Th2 cells with neutrophilic inflammation, probably induced by Th17, affects more severe asthmatic disease. Exacerbation of asthmatic inflammation is often triggered by airway-targeting RNA viral infection; virus-derived double-stranded RNA, Toll-like receptor (TLR)3 ligand, activates bronchial epithelial cells to produce pro-inflammatory mediators, including TSLP. OBJECTIVE: Because TSLPR-expressing DCs express TLR3, we examined how the relationship between TSLP and TLR3 ligand stimulation influences DC activation. METHODS: CD11c(+)DCs purified from adult peripheral blood were cultured in TLR ligands containing media with or without TSLP and then co-cultured with allogeneic naïve CD4(+)T cells. RESULTS: CD11c(+) DCs responded to a combination of TSLP and TLR3 ligand, poly(I : C), to up-regulate expression of the functional TSLP receptor and TLR3. Although TSLP alone did not induce IL-23 production by DCs, poly(I : C) alone primed DCs for the production of IL-23, and a combination of TSLP and poly(I : C) primed DCs for further production of IL-23. The addition of poly(I : C) did not inhibit TSLP-activated DCs to prime naïve CD4(+) T cells to differentiate into inflammatory Th2 cells. Furthermore, DCs activated by a combination of TSLP and poly(I : C) primed more naïve CD4(+) T cells to differentiate into Th17-cytokine-producing cells with a central memory T cell phenotype compared with DCs activated by poly(I : C) alone. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that through DC activation, human TSLP and TLR3 ligands promote differentiation of Th17 cells with the central memory T cell phenotype under Th2-polarizing conditions.

Activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway in epidermal tumours and its correlation with cyclin-dependent kinase 2.

BACKGROUND: The enzyme mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) integrates many different cellular signals to control cell growth and proliferation, protein synthesis and breakdown, and other processes. Dysregulation of mTOR is implicated in a range of human diseases, including cancers and cardiovascular disorders. To date, there has been no report on the expression of protein kinase B (AKT)/mTOR cell signalling in epidermal tumours. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the activation of the mTOR signalling pathway in epidermal tumours and to correlate this with cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) expression. METHODS: Immunohistological staining was performed with phosphorylated (p-) AKT, p-mTOR, p-4E-binding protein 1 (p-4EBP1), p-ribosomal protein S6 (p-S6), p-p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (p-p70S6K1) and CDK2 in 15 cases each of seborrhoeic keratosis, actinic keratosis, keratoacanthoma and Bowen's disease (BD), and 25 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Fifteen normal skin (NS) samples served as control. RESULTS: Among 85 tumours, 40 (47%) were positive for p-AKT, 31 (36%) for p-mTOR, 44 (52%) for p-4EBP1, 38 (45%) for p-S6, and 39 (46%) for p-p70S6K1. CDK2 immunostaining was positive in all cases of SCC and BD, and in 67% of benign tumours. All of these markers were stained much more frequently in malignant tumours than in benign tumours or NS. p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-4EBP1, p-p70S6K1 and p-S6 each showed high correlation with CDK2. CONCLUSIONS: Constitutive activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway was frequent in epidermal tumours, especially in malignant tumours. Activation was highly correlated with CDK2 expression, suggesting that the AKT/mTOR pathway may induce the malignant transition through CDK2 in epidermal tumours.

Human TSLP directly enhances expansion of CD8+ T cells.

Human thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) promotes CD4(+) T-cell proliferation both directly and indirectly through dendritic cell (DC) activation. Although human TSLP-activated DCs induce CD8(+) T-cell proliferation, it is not clear whether TSLP acts directly on CD8(+) T cells. In this study, we show that human CD8(+) T cells activated by T-cell receptor stimulation expressed TSLP receptor (TSLPR), and that TSLP directly enhanced proliferation of activated CD8(+) T cells. Although non-stimulated human CD8(+) T cells from peripheral blood did not express TSLPR, CD8(+) T cells activated by anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 did express TSLPR. After T-cell receptor stimulation, TSLP directly enhanced the expansion of activated CD8(+) T cells. Interestingly, using monocyte-derived DCs pulsed with a cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific pp65 peptide, we found that although interleukin-2 allowed expansion of both CMV-specific and non-specific CD8(+) T cells, TSLP induced expansion of only CMV-specific CD8(+) T cells. These results suggest that human TSLP directly enhances expansion of CD8(+) T cells and that the direct and indirect action of TSLP on expansion of target antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells may be beneficial to adoptive cell transfer immunotherapy.

Increased expression of an epidermal stem cell marker, cytokeratin 19, in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) has been considered to be a putative marker for epidermal stem cells in the hair follicle bulge. Cumulative reports have shown that epidermal stem cells play an important role in skin carcinogenesis. However, to date there has been no report on the clinical alteration of the stem cells in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). OBJECTIVES: To investigate alteration of the stem cells and proliferating cells and to assess their relationship and potential contribution to SCC. METHODS: Thirty paraffin-embedded neoplastic skin lesions, consisting of 10 cases each of actinic keratosis (AK), Bowen disease (BD) and SCC, were examined immunohistologically for CK19 and Ki-67. RESULTS: Positive reactivity for CK19 was seen in 30% of AK, 50% of BD and 80% of SCC lesions. There was significantly higher expression levels of CK19 in SCC than in AK and BD (P < 0.05). In addition, BD lesions harboured a significantly higher number of CK19-positive cells than did AK lesions (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in Ki-67 labelling indices between AK and BD and between AK and SCC (P < 0.001), but not between BD and SCC (P > 0.05). Furthermore, a serial section comparison study showed that there was a minor population of cells co-expressing CK19 and Ki-67 in a subset of the tumour cells of SCC samples. The percentage of CK19+ cells significantly correlated with that of Ki67+ cells in all examined neoplastic skin lesions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CK19 expression may be associated with the retention of stem cell characteristics or a state that is uncommitted to terminal squamous differentiation.

Differential expression of two new members of the p53 family, p63 and p73, in extramammary Paget's disease.

BACKGROUND: The proteins p53, p63 and p73 are known to be overexpressed and to play important roles in the pathogenesis of many tumours, but the expression of p63 and p73 has not previously been investigated in extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD). AIM: To investigate the potential contribution of p53, p63 and p73 in the pathogenesis of EMPD. METHODS: In total, 35 paraffin wax-embedded tissue samples from patients with EMPD were examined using immunohistochemical staining for p53, p63 and p73. RESULTS: All of the 35 EMPD specimens, including all 6 invasive EMPD and 2 metastatic lymph-node specimens, showed nuclear overexpression of both p53 and p73. The expression levels (percentage of positive cells) of p53 and p73 (90.66 +/- 12.53% and 80.20 +/- 13.07%) in EMPD were significantly higher than those of normal skin. There was a significant correlation between the expression levels of p53 and p73 in EMPD. In 29 of 35 EMPD specimens, there was no nuclear expression of p63, and weak or moderate staining was found in only 6 specimens. The expression level of p63 in EMPD was significantly less than that in normal skin. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the concordant overexpression of p53 and p73 and the decreased expression of p63 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of EMPD. The decreased expression of p63 may play a more important role in the pathogenesis of EMPD than the overexpression of p53 and p73.

Assessment of abnormal blood flow and efficacy of treatment in patients with systemic sclerosis using a newly developed microwireless laser Doppler flowmeter and arm-raising test.

Background Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) frequently suffer from recalcitrant digital ulceration because of impaired cutaneous blood flow (CBF). A simple and accurate CBF measurement would be helpful to evaluate the disease status and efficacy of treatment in such patients. Objectives To examine the feasibility of a newly developed, micromachined integrated laser blood flowmeter (MILBF) for evaluation of abnormal CBF responses in patients with SSc. Methods CBF of finger pulp was measured in eight patients with SSc and in six healthy controls using MILBF. CBF in the steady state and the responses to the arm-raising test and cold provocation were assessed. The therapeutic efficacy of a single and an intensive prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) infusion treatment was also evaluated in some of the SSc patients. Results The patients with SSc showed significantly lower steady-state CBF than controls. The rate of blood flow with cold provocation and the velocity of blood flow recovery after cold provocation (VR-CP) tended to be lower in patients with SSc. Augmentation of amplitude of the digital pulse wave by arm raising (AA-AR) was observed in controls, but not in patients with SSc. We also found that VR-CP and AA-AR may be good markers for evaluating the efficacy of vasodilatory treatment. It should be noted that the examined patients did not complain of any pain and/or distress during the arm-raising test, as opposed to during cold provocation. Conclusions CBF assessment using MILBF and an arm-raising test is accurate, noninvasive and well tolerated and thus the combination may be a better alternative method to evaluate abnormal CBF and efficacy of treatment in patients with SSc.

Substance P stimulates late-stage rat osteoblastic bone formation through neurokinin-1 receptors.

Substance P (SP) is a widely distributed neuropeptide that works as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. Recently, SP receptors, particularly neurokinin-1 receptors (NK(1)-Rs) that have a high affinity for SP, have been observed not only in neuron and immune cells, but also in other peripheral cells, including bone cells. To identify the role of SP in bone formation, we investigated the expression of NK(1)-Rs in osteoblastic cells and the effects of SP on bone formation by rat calvarial osteoblastic cells. Rat calvarial osteoblastic cells were isolated and cultured for 3 weeks in alpha-MEM containing 10% serum, ascorbic acid, dexamethasone, and beta-glycerophosphate. We then investigated NK(1)-R expression, SP effects on osteoblastic bone formation, and osteocalcin mRNA expression in osteoblastic cells. RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry showed that NK(1)-R mRNA was expressed and NK(1)-R was present in 14-day, but not 7-day, cultured calvarial osteoblasts. Bone formation by cultured osteoblastic cells significantly increased after the addition of 10(-8)-10(-6)MSP. During 3 weeks of culture, the addition of SP in the first week did not significantly increase bone formation, whereas adding SP during the first and second week or all 3 weeks significantly increased calvarial osteoblastic bone formation. Furthermore, semi-quantitative RT-PCR indicated that SP stimulated osteocalcin mRNA expression in the osteoblasts at day 14 or day 21, whereas SP did not stimulated the runX2 or type I collagen mRNA expression at day 7 but stimulated them at day 14. These results indicate that SP stimulates bone formation by osteoblastic cells via NK(1)-Rs at late-stage bone formation. These effects were dependent on the expression of NK(1)-R in osteoblastic cells. Our findings suggest that SP secreted from sensory neurons may modulate bone formation after the expression of SP receptors.

Gastric mucosal hyperplasia via upregulation of gastrin induced by persistent activation of gastric innate immunity in major histocompatibility complex class II deficient mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Major histocompatibility complex class II deficient (Aalpha0/0) mice have decreased CD4+ T cells, making them immunologically similar to patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Both patients with AIDS and Aalpha0/0 mice have hypertrophic gastric folds. To clarify the mechanism of gastric mucosal hyperplasia, we investigated the pathophysiology and the role of the innate immunity in the stomach of Aalpha0/0 mice. METHODS: Stomachs from 1-6 month old Aalpha0/0 mice, kept under specific pathogen free conditions, were examined at 1 month intervals histologically and immunohistochemically. Gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptors (TLRs), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the gastric mucosa was investigated. Serum gastrin levels and gastric acidity were measured. Bacterial culture of the stomach was performed. To clarify the roles of hypergastrinaemia in the gastric mucosa, a gastrin receptor antagonist (AG041R) was administered. RESULTS: Aalpha0/0 mice had a diffusely thick corpus mucosa with infiltration of CD11b+ granulocytes and macrophages. Anti-Ki67 staining demonstrated expansion of the proliferating neck zone. Gene expression of interleukin 1beta, interferon gamma, TLR-2, TLR-4, and COX-2 were upregulated, and MPO activity was increased. Only a small amount of non-pathogenic bacteria was detected in the stomach. Serum gastrin levels and Reg-Ialpha positive cells in the gastric mucosa increased, despite normal gastric acidity. After treatment with AG041R, gastric mucosal thickness was significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: Persistent activation of innate immunity in the stomach induced gastric mucosal hyperplasia through upregulation of gastrin synthesis in Aalpha0/0 mice, suggesting a pathophysiology similar to the gastric changes in patients with AIDS.