Localization of annexins I, II, IV and VII in whole prostate sections from radical prostatectomy patients.

Annexins (ANXs) represent a family of calcium and phospholipid binding proteins that are involved in several physiological processes e.g. signal transduction, cellular differentiation and proliferation. Since they are known to be dysregulated in a variety of cancers we investigated the immunolocalization of ANXs in whole prostate sections containing benign prostatic epithelium (BPE), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and prostate cancer (PCa) in order to evaluate their possible role during tumorigenesis. Samples were obtained from 28 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. Gross sections of whole prostates were examined immunohistochemically for the distribution of ANX I, II, IV and VII. In BPE all ANXs were localized to the cell membranes and the cytoplasm of all gland cells. In BPH the immunoreactivity of ANX I and II was restricted to the basal cells of glands and expression pattern of ANX IV and VII was similar to BPE. In PIN only basal cells expressed ANX II. In PCa ANX II immunoreactivity was absent and weak ANX I and ANX IV immunoreactivity was restricted to the cytoplasm of tumor cells. ANX VII immunoreactivity was seen in some but not all tumor cells. Since ANX IV and VII expression did not show significant changes in PCa compared to non-neoplastic tissue and PIN an essential role during prostate tumourigenesis seems unlikely. In contrast, as progression from PIN to PCa is characterized by a reduction of ANX I and II this suggests that downregulation of these proteins could represent an important event in prostate carcinogenesis.

[Molecular aspects of alterations in normal normal conjunctival epithelium. Role of apoptosis-associated genes]. / Molekulare Aspekte der Alterung des normalen Bindehautepithels Zur Bedeutung apoptoseassoziierter Gene.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the age-dependent physiological expression pattern of apoptosis-related genes in the normal conjunctiva. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Healthy probands (group A: 24 probands and group B: 24 probands) were subjected to modified impression cytology using a PTFE membrane for evaluation of age-dependent expression of apoptosis-related genes in the normal conjunctiva. RNA was isolated from the cytologic impression specimens and used for cDNA synthesis employing SuperScriptTM II reverse transcriptase. RESULTS: RT-PCR revealed the detection of apoptosis-related mRNAs as follows (group A compared to group B): Apaf-1: 4.2/4.2%, Bcl-2: 41.7/41.7%, Bim: 0/0%, Bag-1: 70.8/100%, p53: 0/8.3%, Casp-3: 4.2/66.7%, Casp-5: 70.8/37.5%, Casp-8: 62.5/20.8%, Casp-9: 25/12.5%, c-myc: 83.3/95.8%, BAX: 91.7/70.8%, and BAD: 95.8/87.5%. CONCLUSION: The results revealed an age-dependent expression of apoptosis-associated genes (proapoptotic: Casp-3, Casp-5, Casp-8, antiapoptotic Bag-1) in normal human conjunctiva. Taken together these investigations provide basic information to understand the expression of apoptosis-associated genes in various diseases of the conjunctiva.