Changes in γδT Cells in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis Exacerbations

The role of γδT cells in ulcerative colitis (UC) is well confirmed in experimental animals and demonstrated in many clinical observations. Recent investigations have indicated that UC is associated with several forms of immune imbalance, such as an imbalance between effector T cells and regulatory T cells. However, little is known about the cellular aspect of clinical colitis exacerbations. We observed 140 patients with histologically confirmed UC over the course of 8 years. We investigated the percentage of γδT and αβT cells in peripheral blood of patients and also the expression of various surface markers (CD25, CD54, CD62L). Patients were assembled into stable colitis and exacerbated colitis groups. The percentage of γδT and αβT cells was evaluated by Ortho Cytorone Absolute flow cytometer. In patients with exacerbated colitis we observed a decrease of γδT cells in peripheral blood and an increased ratio of αβT/γδT. Additionally, we found that exacerbation results in a significant increase of percentage of γδTCD25, γδTCD54 and γδTCD62L lymphocytes in peripheral blood when compared to patients with stable colitis. Exacerbation of ulcerative colitis results in a decreased percentage of γδT cells in peripheral blood with increase of CD25, CD54 and CD62L expressing γδT cells. This may represent the effect of cell activation and migration, similar to that observed after the surgical trauma. We hope that this observation may help to predict exacerbations in colitis patients.

In vitro contact guidance of glioblastoma cells on metallic biomaterials

Cancer cells’ ability to sense their microenvironment and interpret these signals for the regulation of directional adhesion plays crucial role in cancer invasion. Furthermore, given the established influence of mechanical properties of the substrate on cell behavior, the present study aims to elucidate the relationship between the contact guidance of glioblastoma cell (GBM) and evolution of microstructural and mechanical properties of the implants. SEM analyses of the specimens subjected to 5 and 25% of plastic strains revealed directional groove-like structures in micro and submicro-sizes, respectively. Microscale cytoplasmic protrusions of GBMs showed elongation favored along the grooves created via deformation markings on 5% deformed sample. Whereas filopodia, submicro-sized protrusions facilitating cancer invasion, elongated in the direction perpendicular to the deformation markings on the 25% deformed sample, which might lead to easy and rapid retraction. Furthermore, number of cell attachment was 1.7-fold greater on 25% deformed sample, where these cells showed the greatest cellular aspect ratio. The directional attachment and contact guidance of GBMs was reported for the first time on metallic implants and these findings propose the idea that GBM response could be regulated by controlling the spacing of the deformation markings, namely the degree of plastic deformation. These findings can be applied in the design of cell-instructive implants for therapeutic purposes to suppress cancer dissemination.

ApoB-100 Lipoproteins Complex Formation with Intima Proteoglycans as Cause of Atherosclerosis and Its Possible Ex vivo Evaluation as a Disease Biomarker

Experimental and clinical data indicates that the initiation and progress of atherosclerosis, and its clinical manifestations, are caused first by circulating apoB-100 lipoproteins that enter and are retained in the arterial intima. Extracellular sulfated proteoglycans (PGs) of the intima are the retention agents. The PGs also initiate physical and biochemical lipoprotein degradation with the production of bioactive, lipid products that trigger an inflammatory response that leads to atherosclerosis. There are many simple methods for measuring abnormalities of circulating lipoproteins and their relation to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD). However, limited research has been aimed to evaluate procedures that could report quantitatively about the contribution of the apo-100 lipoprotein-arterial intima PGs interaction to clinical manifestation of ACVD. In the present review we will discuss observations indicating that simple ex vivo evaluation of the affinity of apoB-100 lipoproteins for arterial PGs and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) can give indication of its association with clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis. In addition, we will discuss molecular and cellular aspect of the apoB-100 lipoproteins association with arterial PGs that are related to atherogenesis and that support the experimental framework behind the current “Response-to-Retention” hypothesis of atherosclerosis

Cellular aspect ratio and cell division mechanics underlie the patterning of cell progeny in diverse mammalian epithelia

Cell division is essential to expand, shape, and replenish epithelia. In the adult small intestine, cells from a common progenitor intermix with other lineages, whereas cell progeny in many other epithelia form contiguous patches. The mechanisms that generate these distinct patterns of progeny are poorly understood. Using light sheet and confocal imaging of intestinal organoids, we show that lineages intersperse during cytokinesis, when elongated interphase cells insert between apically displaced daughters. Reducing the cellular aspect ratio to minimize the height difference between interphase and mitotic cells disrupts interspersion, producing contiguous patches. Cellular aspect ratio is similarly a key parameter for division-coupled interspersion in the early mouse embryo, suggesting that this physical mechanism for patterning progeny may pertain to many mammalian epithelia. Our results reveal that the process of cytokinesis in elongated mammalian epithelia allows lineages to intermix and that cellular aspect ratio is a critical modulator of the progeny pattern.

Targeting Ameloblatoma into Apoptosis

BACKGROUND: Generally ameloblastoma is a locally aggressive, slow growing, non-metastatic epithelial odontogenic benign tumor. However, rarely some ameloblastoma can metastasize in spite of a benign histologic appearance. Targeting ameloblastoma by inducing it into apoptosis could be a beneficial strategy, since many ameloblastoma cases were reported recurrent after surgical therapy.CONTENT: To investigate ameloblastoma in cellular aspect,cytological pattern of ameloblastoma was divided intoouter layer/peripheral and inner layer/central cells. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Fas ligand (FasL), TNF receptor (TNFR)1/death receptor (DR)1, TNFR2/DR2, DR4, DR5andFas were highly expressed in central than peripheral cells. Despite inducing apoptosis, TNF-α can induce PI3K leading to Akt and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) activation in AM-1 cells, which later induce cell survival and proliferation. Therefore apoptotic induction in ameloblastoma should be suggested in higher TNF-α concentration. Expression of FasL and Fas are closely associated with squamous metaplasia and granular transformation of the tumor cells, suggesting that apoptosis induced by FasL may play a role in the terminally differentiated or degenerative ameloblastoma cells. TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has emerged as an apoptotic inducing anticancer agent in tumor cells specifically. TRAIL induced activation of caspases, lowering mitochondrial membrane potential, high number of apoptotic cells in ameloblastoma cells. Therefore, TRAIL could be a potential agent for targeting ameloblastoma, although further study should be explored.SUMMARY: Targeting ameloblastoma by inducing it into apoptosis could be achieved effectively, although some criteria should be considered. Therefore understanding the underlying apoptosis signaling pathways are necessary for inducing ameloblasotma into apoptosis. Investigations on other apoptosis-related molecules, potential apoptosis-inducing natural products, and novel approach in reprogramming, are important in the future for a better anagement of ameloblastoma.KEYWORDS: ameloblastoma, apoptosis, TNF, Fas, TRAIL, Akt, MAPK, caspase