Phenotypic changes of interstitial cells of Cajal after intestinal obstruction in rat model

The objective was to study the effect of mechanical intestinal obstruction in rats on the phenotype of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). Healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (C), one day obstruction group (M1), two days obstruction group (M2), and three days obstruction group (M3), with 10 rats in each group. The expression of SCF mRNA and c-Kit protein in intestinal tissue was investigated by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Compared with the sham-operation group, the relative expression of SCF mRNA and the expression of c-Kit protein in intestinal tissue were significantly decreased in both obstruction groups. Levels decreased gradually with the prolongation of obstruction time, and significantly decreased on the 3rd day after obstruction (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining of the small intestine showed that the number of ICC in the sham-operation group was the highest, and they were gradually decreased with the extension of obstruction time in the M1 to M3 groups. There was a significant difference between groups (P<0.05). Intestinal obstruction caused a decrease in the concentrations of SCF mRNA and c-Kit protein in ICC. With the prolongation of intestinal obstruction, the number of ICCs gradually decreased.

C-Kit-Negative Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in the Stomach

C-kit-negative gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are uncommon, and there have been few reports about the diagnosis and treatment of c-kit-negative GISTs in the stomach. We report the case of a patient who was diagnosed with a huge and atypical GIST in the stomach. The GIST was completely resected and finally diagnosed as c-kit-negative GIST based on immunohistochemical staining of tumor cells, which were negative for CD117 and CD34 and positive for Discovered on GIST-1 (DOG1). C-kit-negative GISTs could be treated by complete resection and/or imatinib, which is the same treatment for c-kit-positive GISTs.

Effects of puerarin on interstitial cells of Caj al and expression of c-kit protein in colon tissue of mice with chronic alcoholism / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective To explore the protective effects of puerarin on the colon tissue of the mice with chronic alcoholism through observing the changes of quantity and morphology of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)and the expression of c-kit protein in colon tissue of chronic alcoholism mice.Methods 24 healthy BALB/C mice were randomly divided into saline control group (SC group ), chronic alcoholic intoxication group (CAI group ) and puerarin pretreatment group(PUE group).The models of chronic alcoholism mice were established in CAI group and PUE group. The intestinal transmission rate was tested by measuring the Indian ink advancing length;immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscope (TEM)were applied to detect the distribution, quantity and ultrastructure of ICC;Western blotting method was used to analyze the C-kit protein expression.Results The intestinal transmission rate in PUE group was significant higher than that in CAI group(P0.05).Compared with SC group,the ultrastructure of ICC in CAI group had obvious changes,the organelles were decreased,and the mitochondrion was swelling.But those changes were reversed in PUE group and the number of mitochondria was increased.The expression of C-kit protein in PUE tissue was higher than that in CAI group (P<0.05),but there was no significant difference compared with SC group.Conclusion Puerarin has a repair or reverse effect on the changes of the number,ultrastructure of ICC and C-kit protein expression caused by alcohol.

Expression and clinical significance of c-kit and PCNA in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of c-kit and analyze its relationship with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in RCC subtypes and its clinical progression. Methods Expression of c-kit protein was retrospectively studied with immunohistochemistry in paraffin sections from 137 cases of clear renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC), 82 papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC), 51 chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC). Results The positive rate of c-kit in ChRCC was 94.1%(48/51), it was statistically higher than that in CCRCC (16. 1%, 22/137) and PRCC (28.1 %, 23/82)(P=0. 001 ). In ChRCC, the positive expression of c-kit was related with TNM stages. The positive expression of PCNA was related with the grade in CCRCC and PRCC. But there was no relationship between PCNA expression and grade of ChRCC. It also had the relationship with the metastasis in CCRCC. Conclusions The expression of c-kit in ChRCC is higher than in other subtype of RCC, and associated with tumor local progression. That makes c-kit as a helpful marker to discriminate different subtypes of kidney cancer.

The Involvement of Adult Stem Cells Originated from Bone Marrow in the Pathogenesis of Pterygia

Pterygium is a proliferative disease. Recent research has reported that stem cells are involved in the pathogenesis of various proliferative diseases, including solid tumors and diabetic proliferate vitreoretinopathy. In previous literature, we hypothesized that adult stem cells originated from bone marrow were involved in the pathogenesis of pterygium. We proved this by immunohistochemical staining with various stem cell markers. The staining showed adult stem cells in the pterygium. c-kit positive cells were observed primarily in the stroma, and some cells were also found in the basal epithelium. AC133 and CD34 positive cells were primarily found in the basal epithelium and were ovoid shaped, similar to the c-kit cells. However, some cells were found in vascular endothelium. STRO-1 positive cells were found mainly in the stroma and were spindle shaped. In recurrent pterygium, cells were more scattered and the expression pattern was denser. Therefore, we suggest a new theory of pterygium pathogenesis. Inflammation caused by environmental factors triggers the abnormal production of some growth factors and cytokines in order to recover from cellular damage. If these healing signals are excessive, limbal basal cells will be changed to abnormally-altered pterygial cells. The excessive wound healing process and remnant altered cells result in recurrence using the same mechanism.