Spironolactone alleviates myocardial fibrosis via inhibition of Ets-1 in mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

Spironolactone improves cardiac structure, function and prognosis in patients with heart failure and delays the progression of cardiac fibrosis. However, the exact underlying mechanism of this process remains to be elucidated. The present study therefore aimed to explore the protective effect and underlying mechanism of the aldosterone receptor antagonist, spironolactone, on myocardial fibrosis in mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). The EAM model was induced in BALB/c mice via immunization with murine cardiac α-myosin heavy chain sequence polypeptides. The cardiac function of the mice was assessed using echocardiography and the levels of inflammatory cytokines were quantified using ELISA. E26 transformation-specific sequence-1 (Ets-1) expression was knocked down using lentivirus-mediated small interference RNA. Total collagen deposition was assessed using Masson's trichrome and Ets-1, TGF-ß1, Smad2/3, collagen I and III protein expression levels were detected using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression levels and activity was determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and gelatin zymography, respectively. The results of the present study demonstrated that spironolactone significantly improved myocardium hypertrophy, diastolic cardiac function and decreased myocardial inflammation and collagen deposition induced by EAM. Spironolactone treatment significantly inhibited Ets-1 and smad2/3 phosphorylation. In addition, inhibition of Ets-1 reduced the expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and decreased cardiac fibrosis in EAM mice. The results indicated that the improvement of myocardial fibrosis by spironolactone may be associated with the TGF-ß1/Smad-2/3/Ets-1 signaling pathway in EAM mice.

Lactotransferrin Downregulation Serves as a Potential Predictor for the Therapeutic Effectiveness of mTOR Inhibitors in the Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma without PTEN Mutation.

Approximately 30% of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients develop metastatic spread at the first diagnosis. Therefore, identifying a useful biomarker to predict ccRCC metastasis or therapeutic effectiveness in ccRCC patients is urgently needed. Previously, we demonstrated that lactotransferrin (LTF) downregulation enhanced the metastatic potential of ccRCC. Here, we show that LTF expression conversely associates with the mTORC1 activity as simulated by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Moreover, Western blot analyses revealed that the LTF knockdown promoted, but the inclusion of recombinant human LTF protein suppressed, the phosphorylation of Akt/mTOR proteins in the detected ccRCC cells. Kaplan-Meier analyses demonstrated that the signature of combining an upregulated mTORC1 activity with a downregulated LTF expression referred to a worse overall and progression-free survival probabilities and associated with distant cancer metastasis in TCGA ccRCC patients. Furthermore, we found that the LTF-suppressed Akt/mTOR activation triggered an increased formation of autophagy in the highly metastatic ccRCC cells. The addition of autophagy inhibitor 3-methyadenine restored the LTF-suppressed cellular migration ability of highly metastatic ccRCC cells. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses showed that the expression of the LTF and MTORC1 gene set, not the autophagy gene set, could be the useful biomarkers to predict 5-year overall survival rate and cancer progression in ccRCC patients. Significantly, the signature of combining mTORC1 upregulation and LTF downregulation was shown as an independent prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis under the progression-free survival condition using the TCGA ccRCC database. Finally, the treatment with mTOR inhibitor rapamycin predominantly reduced the formation of autophagy and ultimately mitigated the cellular migration ability of ccRCC cells with LTF knockdown. Our findings suggest that LTF downregulation is a biomarker for guiding the use of mTOR inhibitors to combat metastatic ccRCC in the clinic.

Circulating cytokines as predictors of depression in patients with breast cancer.

Depression is a common comorbid disorder associated with breast cancer, and it can have considerable physical and psychological impacts. Circulating cytokines have been proposed as a potential tool to predict depression in various diseases; however, limited studies have specifically examined it in breast cancer. In this study, we examined and compared the prediction ability of various circulating cytokines for depression in patients with breast cancer. Eighty-three patients with a new diagnosis of breast cancer not receiving chemotherapy were recruited; among them, 15 patients had depression and 68 did not have depression. Depression was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Cytokine levels in the serum were measured using an immunology multiplex assay. Two types of cytokines were assayed: (1) proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17A, interferon [IFN]γ, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]α) and (2) anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to calculate the area under the curves (AUCs), sensitivities, and specificities of circulating cytokines for predicting depression. As a result, IL-2 (AUC = 0.78) and IL-5 (AUC = 0.76) demonstrated good predictability for depression, even after controlling for the covariates (i.e. age, education, stage of cancer, surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy). The optimal cut-off value of IL-2 for predicting depression was 1.06 pg/mL with a sensitivity of 86.7% and a specificity of 52.9%; this cytokine also had the best prediction ability in this study. Owing to the prediction ability and practical feasibility of circulating cytokines, they may be used as a valid laboratory diagnostic tool for depression in breast cancer.

Subjective and objective cognitive functioning among patients with breast cancer: effects of chemotherapy and mood symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Previous findings regarding declines in cognitive functioning among patients with breast cancer (BC) before and after chemotherapy have been inconsistent. The present study explored the effect of BC and cancer-related chemotherapies on cognitive functioning. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was adopted to compare BC patients before their chemotherapy treatment, BC patients 3 ~ 9 months after the completion of chemotherapy, and noncancer controls. Evaluations of cognitive functioning included subjective and objective dimensions, with focus on memory, executive functioning, attention, and language. ANCOVA and Pearson's correlation analysis were used to examine the relationship among cancer, chemotherapy, cognitive performance, and psychological distress. RESULTS: After adjustment for intelligence quotient, anxiety, and depression, we found significant differences in the Semantic Association of Verbal Fluency between post-chemotherapy (C/T) patients and noncancer controls. Specifically, post-C/T patients scored lower than controls (p = 0.03, η2 = 0.07). No significant differences were found in other objective cognitive measures. However, both subjective and objective cognitive scores were significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and fatigue. In BC patients, levels of anxiety were positively correlated with measures of executive function. Among pre-C/T patients, self-perceived interference by fatigue was positively associated with better performances in some of the objective cognitive measures. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest cognitive impairments in the domain of executive functioning among patients with BC who received chemotherapy. Providing relevant suggestions or strategies of managements for these negative consequences may help increase the long-term quality of life of patients with BC.

Differential associations of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines with depression severity from noncancer status to breast cancer course and subsequent chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we examined the differential associations of various proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines with depression severity from the development of breast cancer to subsequent chemotherapy treatment. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 116 women: 29 controls without cancer, 55 patients with breast cancer who were not receiving chemotherapy, and 32 patients with breast cancer who were receiving chemotherapy. Blood samples were assayed to evaluate serum levels of the following cytokines: interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-12 (p70), IL-1ß, IL-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IL-6, and IL-17A. Depression severity was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: After adjustment for sociodemographics, consistent patterns of the association between cytokine and depression were noted in the different groups. No significant associations were observed in the controls. Inverse associations were observed between cytokines levels and depression severity in patients with breast cancer who were not receiving chemotherapy, whereas positive associations were noted in patients with breast cancer who were receiving chemotherapy. Specific differential relationships between IL-5 levels and depression severity were found between patients with breast cancer who were receiving and not receiving chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed differential relationships between cytokine levels and depression severity with the development of cancer. Immunostimulation and immunosuppression in breast cancer and cancer treatment may account for the differential responses with the development of breast cancer.

Afamin expression in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a collection of molecularly and clinically distinct neoplastic disease. Recent research has shown the information regarding gene expression in breast cancer could be beneficial in the designing of an optimal treatment plan and may also provide with prognostic information. The creation of tissue microarrays (TMA) allows for the rapid immunohistochemical analysis of thousands of tissue samples in parallel with minimal damage to the original blocks. This study was designed with the application of tissue microarray (TMA) to analyze the afamin status in breast cancer with the hope of elucidating the possible relationship between afamin expressions and breast cancer. METHODS: Archival tissue specimens from 106 patients with primary invasive breast cancer were analyzed for afamin expression by immunhistochemical staining with TMA. Results were compared to clinicopathologic data by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: TNM stage has shown significant relationship to the overall 5-year survival rate. However, afamin expression was not significantly related to overall five-year survival. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical staining with TMA was convenient and feasible for analyzing afamin expression status in breast cancer. Our preliminary results show that afamin expression showed no significant prognostic value in breast cancer.

Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship evaluation of novel LpxC inhibitors as Gram-negative antibacterial agents.

LpxC inhibitors are new-type antibacterial agents developed in the last twenty years, mainly against Gram-negative bacteria infections. To develop novel LpxC inhibitors with good antibacterial activities and biological metabolism, we summarized the basic skeleton of reported LpxC inhibitors, designed and synthesized several series of compounds and tested their antibacterial activities against Escherichial coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro. Structure-activity relationships have been discussed in this article. The metabolism stability of YDL-2, YDL-5, YDL-8, YDL-14, YDL-20-YDL-23 have been evaluated in liver microsomes, which indicated that the 2-amino isopropyl group may be a preferred structure than the 2-hydroxy ethyl group in the design of LpxC inhibitors.

Ulinastatin attenuates diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction by the inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis.

Ulinastatin exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and protects the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, whether ulinastatin has a protective effect in diabetic cardiomyopathy is yet to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of ulinastatin against diabetic cardiomyopathy and its underlying mechanisms. A C57/BL6J mice model of diabetic cardiomyopathy was used and mice were randomly assigned to three groups: Control group, diabetes mellitus (DM) group and DM + ulinastatin treatment group. Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography and the level of inflammatory cytokine high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) expression was measured using histopathological examination and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured using western blotting and ELISA. The apoptosis rate in the myocardium was assessed by TUNEL assay. Caspase-3 activation, expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated × (Bax) were measured using western blotting, as was the activity of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The results indicated that ulinastatin significantly improved cardiac function in mice with DM. Ulinastatin treatment significantly downregulated HMGB1, TNF-α and IL-6 expression (P<0.05) and significantly reduced the percentage of apoptotic cardiomyocytes (P<0.05) via reduction of caspase-3 activation and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in diabetic hearts (P<0.05). In addition, ulinastatin attenuated the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. In conclusion, ulinastatin had a protective effect against DM-induced cardiac dysfunction in a mouse model. This protective effect may be associated with the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic abilities of ulinastatin via the MAPK signaling pathway.

[Effect of Different Iron Minerals on Bioaccessibility of Soil Arsenic Using in vitro Methods].

To explore the effects of different iron minerals on soil arsenic bioaccessibility, ferrihydrite, goethite and hematite were used in PBET, SBRC and IVG in-vitro experiments in this study. The relationship between arsenic bioavailability in gastric, small intestinal phases and arsenic speciation was also studied. The results showed that when 1% ferrihydrite was added, arsenic bioavailability in gastric phase was 2.22%, 5.11% and 7.43% by PBET, SBRC and IVG methods, respectively, while in the small intestinal phase it was 3.39%, 2.33% and 6.18%. At an elevated ferrihydrite dosage of 2%, significant difference in arsenic bioavailability was observed in both phases (P<0.05). According to in vitro experiments, the addition of the same amount of different iron minerals had contributed to the decrease in arsenic bioavailability to varying extents in contrast with the blank group, in the descending order of ferrihydrite(F1) > goethite(G1) > hematite(H1) (F2 > G2 > H2). Total arsenic in exchangeable (F1) and specifically sorbed (F2) state was found positively correlated with arsenic bioavailability in gastric phase by PBET, SBRC and IVG methods, the correlation coefficient of which being r=0.93, P=0.002, r=0.90, P=0.004 and r=0.89,P=0.006, respectively. It was also found that arsenic bioavailability in gastric phase was positively correlated with total arsenic in F1 and F2 states by PBET(r=0.94,P=0.001) and IVG (r=0.87,P=0.009) methods, but no significant correlation was observed by SBRC method. Additionally, three in vitro experiments showed that amorphous iron bound arsenic had significant negative correlation with arsenic bioavailability in gastric phase and small intestinal phase, except that no correlation was found in small intestinal phase by SBRC method.

HMGB1 mediates hyperglycaemia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via ERK/Ets-1 signalling pathway.

Apoptosis is a key event involved in diabetic cardiomyopathy. The expression of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is up-regulated in diabetic mice. However, the molecular mechanism of high glucose (HG)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis remains obscure. We aimed to determine the role of HMGB1 in HG-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Treating neonatal primary cardiomyocytes with HG increased cell apoptosis, which was accompanied by elevated levels of HMGB1. Inhibition of HMGB1 by short-hairpin RNA significantly decreased HG-induced cell apoptosis by reducing caspase-3 activation and ratio of Bcl2-associated X protein to B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (bax/bcl-2). Furthermore, HG activated E26 transformation-specific sequence-1 (Ets-1), and HMGB1 inhibition attenuated HG-induced activation of Ets-1 via extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signalling. In addition, inhibition of Ets-1 significantly decreased HG-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Similar results were observed in streptozotocin-treated diabetic mice. Inhibition of HMGB1 by short-hairpin RNA markedly decreased myocardial cell apoptosis and activation of ERK and Ets-1 in diabetic mice. In conclusion, inhibition of HMGB1 may protect against hyperglycaemia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by down-regulating ERK-dependent activation of Ets-1.

Inhibition of high-mobility group box 1 improves myocardial fibrosis and dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an important mediator of the inflammatory response. Its expression is increased in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), but its role is unclear. We investigated the potential role and mechanism of HMGB1 in diabetes-induced myocardial fibrosis and dysfunction in mice. METHODS: In vivo, type 1 diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in mice. HMGB1 expression was knocked down by lentivirus-mediated short-hairpin RNA (shRNA). Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Total collagen deposition was assessed by Masson's trichrome and Picrosirius red staining. HMGB1, collagen I and III, and transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) expression was quantified by immunostaining and western bolt analysis. In vitro, isolated neonatal cardiac fibroblasts were treated with high glucose (HG) or recombinant HMGB1 (rHMGB1). Pharmacologic (neutralizing anti-HMGB1 antibody) or genetic (shRNA-HMGB1) inhibition of HMGB1 was used to investigate the role of HMGB1 in HG-induced functional changes of cardiac fibroblasts. RESULTS: In vivo, HMGB1 was diffusely expressed in the myocardium of diabetic mice. HMGB1 silencing ameliorated left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling and decreased collagen deposition in diabetic mice. In vitro, HG induced HMGB1 translocation and secretion in both viable cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. Administration of rHMGB1 dose-dependently increased the expression of collagens I and III and TGF-ß1 in cardiac fibroblasts. HMGB1 inhibition reduced HG-induced collagen production, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activities, proliferation, and activated mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in cardiac fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: HMGB1 inhibition could alleviate cardiac fibrosis and remodeling in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Inhibition of HMGB1 might have therapeutic potential in the treatment of the disease.

Arginase I enhances atherosclerotic plaque stabilization by inhibiting inflammation and promoting smooth muscle cell proliferation.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Arginase I (ArgI) on plaque stabilization in unruptured atherosclerotic plaque and explore its mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS: The atherosclerotic plaque model was established in New Zealand rabbits by balloon injury of abdominal arteries and a high cholesterol (1%) diet. Arginase I overexpression reduced the content of macrophages and lipids and increased that of smooth muscle cells and collagen in the atherosclerotic plaque, thus contributing to decreased plaque vulnerability. Arginase I overexpression decreased the expression of the inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in plaques. In vitro, ArgI overexpression or iNOS inhibition abolished the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 induced by lipopolysaccharide in Raw264.7 cells. However, exogenous l-arginine restored the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Arginase I overexpression inhibited the activity of iNOS without changing its expression. Moreover, ArgI co-localized with iNOS in both Raw264.7 cells and human aortic atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, the IL-10 level was increased in plaque with ArgI overexpression. Finally, ArgI promoted aortic vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, which was associated with increased production of intracellular polyamines. CONCLUSION: ArgI enhances the stability of atherosclerotic plaque by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines and stimulating smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Serum amyloid A stimulates lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 expression in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVES: Although lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) has been regarded as a biomarker and a causative agent for acute coronary events recently, the mechanism of the regulation of Lp-PLA2 has not been fully elucidated yet. This study was aimed to investigate the influence of serum amyloid A (SAA) on the expression of Lp-PLA2 in THP-1 cells and ApoE-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice. METHODS: THP-1 cells were stimulated by SAA and the mRNA and protein expression of Lp-PLA2 was detected. ApoE(-/-) mice were intravenously injected with murine SAA1 lentivirus. Formyl peptide receptor like-1 (FPRL1) agonist (WKYMVm) and inhibitor (WRW(4)), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) inhibitors, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonist and inhibitor were used to investigate the mechanism of regulation of Lp-PLA2. RESULTS: Recombinant SAA up-regulated Lp-PLA2 expression in a dose and time-dependent manner in THP-1 cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of aortic root of ApoE(-/-) mice also demonstrated that the expression of Lp-PLA2 was up-regulated significantly with SAA treatment. WRW(4) decreased SAA-induced Lp-PLA2 production; while WKYMVm could induce Lp-PLA2 expression. ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 inhibition reduced SAA-induced Lp-PLA2 production. Furthermore, the results suggested the activation of PPAR-γ played a crucial role in this process. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that SAA up-regulates Lp-PLA2 production significantly via a FPRL1/MAPKs./PPAR-γ signaling pathway.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 inhibition protects against low shear stress induced inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis begins as local inflammation of vessels at sites of disturbed flow, where low shear stress (LSS) leads to mechanical irritation and plaque development and progression. Nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) is associated with the inflammation response during atherosclerosis. We investigated the role and underlying mechanism of PARP-1 in LSS-induced inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS AND RESULTS: HUVECs were simulated by LSS (0.4Pa). PARP-1 expression was inhibited by ABT888 or siRNA. The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and intercellular adhesion molecular-1 (ICAM-1) expression was regulated by LSS in a time dependent manner. LSS could increase superoxide production and 3-nitrotyrosine formation. LSS induced DNA damage as assessed by H2A.X phosphorylation and comet assay. Compared with cells under static, LSS increased PARP-1 expression and PAR formation via MEK/ERK signaling pathway. PARP-1 inhibition increased Sirt1 activity through an increased intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) level. Moreover, PARP-1 inhibition attenuated LSS-induced iNOS and ICAM-1 upregulation by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) nuclear translocation and activity, with a reduced NF-κB phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: LSS induced oxidative damage and PARP-1 activation via MEK/ERK pathway. PARP-1 inhibition restored Sirt1 activity by increasing NAD(+) level and decreased iNOS and ICAM-1 expression by inhibiting NF-κB nuclear translocation and activity as well as NF-κB phosphorylation. PARP-1 played a fundamental role in LSS induced inflammation. Inhibition of PARP-1 might be a mechanism for treatment of inflammation response during atherosclerosis.

A safe and efficient method for intra-operative digital photography using a waterproof case.

BACKGROUND: Intra-operative photography provides valuable information for photo-documentation. In order to improve quality of photographs and avoid additional contamination, we applied a sterilised waterproof case to adapt a digital camera that allowed the operating surgeon himself to obtain his own ideal images. A prospective study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 46 patients were enrolled in this study. The Fujifilm FinePix F30 digital camera encased in Fuji WP-FXF30 waterproof case was used in this study. Microbiological swabs were taken from the case's surface immediately after sealing the digital camera and at the end of surgery. In addition, intra-operative wound swabs were taken for correlation. The patients were followed up to record the possibility of any additional wound infections. RESULTS: None of the swab results on the waterproof case were positive before use. Overall, 11 patients had positive results of bacteria growth from intra-operative wound cultures. Eight of them also revealed positive microorganisms cultured from the case surface after use, in which the bacteria strains were correlated with the intra-operative wound cultures. However, no additional bacteria growth was noted from the culture of case surface. CONCLUSION: A digital camera encased in a sterilised waterproof case met the strict requirements for sterility in our series and demonstrated no added increase in infection rate. Safe use of this technique for obtaining intra-operative photographs with high image quality can be achieved.

Preoperative serum C-reactive protein and gastric cancer; clinical-pathological correlation and prognostic significance.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely-used systemic biomarker for inflammation. Serum CRP is elevated in many malignancies, and is also a prognostic indicator of malignant potential. However, the prognostic significance for survival from gastric cancer has not yet been clarified. We studied the clinical- pathologic association and prognostic significance of preoperative serum CRP in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 170 gastric cancer patients were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 65.1 years (range, 29-89), and 112 were men. All gastric cancer patients had undergone gastric resection. The serum CRP levels of patients before the operation along with those from 405 healthy controls were measured by a high sensitivity CRP test. RESULTS: The 95th percentile value (=3.0 mg/L) of the serum CRP data in 405 healthy controls was set as the upper cut-off value of the normal range. Abnormally high levels of serum CRP were observed in 65 (38.2%) of our 170 patients in contrast to only 20 (4.9%) of the 405 healthy controls (p<0.001). Elevated CRP was associated with older age (p=0.009), grossly infiltrative type (p=0.001), larger tumors (p<0.001), serosal invasion (p=0.001), lymph node metastasis (p<0.001), distant metastasis (p=0.017), and lymphatic invasion (p=0.002). Overall, a higher CRP level was strongly parallel to a pathologically more advanced stage (p=0.001). The 5-yr survival rate of patients with an elevated (>3.0 mg/L) CRP was significantly worse than those without (

Tubulointerstitial lesions of patients with lupus nephritis classified by the 2003 International Society of Nephrology and Renal Pathology Society system.

The 2003 International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) system for classifying patients with lupus nephritis was based on glomerular lesions exclusively, despite the fact that lupus nephritis affects all compartments of the kidney. Hence, we analyzed the tubulointerstitial lesions in patients with lupus nephritis within the different classes and subclasses of the 2003 ISN/RPS system. Among 313 patients from five centers in northern China with lupus nephritis, interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis were severe in 170 patients with class IV, moderate in 55 with class III, and mild in 19 with class II and in 69 with class V disease, each with significance. The severity of tubulointerstitial lesions in classes IV-segmental and III was similar, whereas the score of interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration in patients with subclass IV-global was significantly higher than that in those with subclass IV-segmental. Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy were each significantly more prominent in patients with both active and chronic lesions than in those with active lesions alone. The correlation coefficient ranged from 0.222 to 0.811 comparing glomerular and tubulointerstitial indices. In multivariate Cox hazard analysis of tubulointerstitial lesions, indices of interstitial infiltration, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis were confirmed as significant independent risk factors for renal outcome. Thus, we found that the 2003 ISN/RPS classification system of lupus nephritis, based on glomerular lesions, could also reflect related tubulointerstitial lesions. Hence, we suggest that the extent of tubulointerstitial lesions may be helpful in predicting renal outcome in patients with lupus nephritis.