Expression of heregulin and ErbB receptors in mesenchymal stem cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Mesenchymal stem cells are a promising cell type for cell transplantation in myocardial infarction. Type I neuregulins-1, also known as heregulin, can promote the survival of cardiomyocytes and stimulate angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of heregulin and ErbB receptors in mesenchymal stem cells, then further detect the secretion of heregulin and the changes in expression of heregulin and ErbB receptors under conditions of serum deprivation and hypoxia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mesenchymal stem cells isolated from bone marrow of 180 g male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured. Passage 3 cells were detected experimentally by regular reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real time PCR and Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Heregulin and ErbB receptors were expressed in mesenchymal stem cells, and all three ErbB receptors mRNA expressions were significantly down-regulated by serum deprivation and hypoxia, but serum deprivation and hypoxia significantly increased the protein expression of heregulin. Serum deprivation and hypoxia more than 12 hours could induce the secretion of heregulin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Mesenchymal stem cells can express all three ErbB receptors and heregulin. Serum deprivation and hypoxia decrease the mRNA expression of ErbB receptors, increase the expression of heregulin, and activate the secretion of heregulin.</p>

Prevalence of steroid receptors and HER 2/neu in breast cancer biopsies of women living in Puerto Rico

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence rate of estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER 2/neu in the breast cancer biopsies analyzed in the Laboratory of Immunohistochemistry of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in the year 2000. This data may serve as a reference point for future studies of the epidemiological aspects of breast cancer among women living in Puerto Rico. BACKGROUND: Determination of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) on biopsy specimens of breast carcinoma prior to treatment is standard practice in the management of breast carcinoma. ER and PR are used to identify patients who are likely to respond to endocrine therapy. The prevalence of ER, PR and Her2/neu among USA women is 77 per cent, 55 per cent and 10-34 per cent, respectively. One of the major clinical roles for testing HER 2/neu expression is to determine eligibility for treatment with Trastuzumab. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 309 breast cancer biopsies was done. Paraffin embedded blocks of breast cancer tissue biopsies were received from different hospitals and Pathology Laboratories located throughout the island specifically for routine analysis of steroid receptor (ER/PR) and/or HER 2/neu expression. Immunostaining was performed in a Ventana Medical Systems automated instrument. RESULTS: Positive nuclear staining for ER and PR were seen in 65.9 per cent (203/308) and 51.8 per cent (159/307), respectively. In the HER2/neu test, 27.8 per cent (46/165) gave a strong and complete membranous staining (score 3+). CONCLUSIONS: There is a lower prevalence of estrogen receptor in the breast cancer biopsies of women living in Puerto Rico than their USA counterparts, but similar prevalence of progesterone receptorstatus and HER 2/neu protein over expression.

Immunohistochemical detection of the c-erb B-2 oncogene and the p53 tumor supressor gene in malignant and non malignant breast lesions and their prognostic significance

In a series of 50 breast lesions [31 malignant breast lesions and 19 benign breast lesions], expression of p53 protein and overexpression of c-erb B-2 oncoprotein were examined immunohistochemically. Expression of p53 was present in 17 out of 31 malignant cases. Five cases were infiltrated duct carcinoma grade II [IDC GII], nine cases were infiltrated duct carcinoma grade III [IDC GIII], two cases were mucoid carcinoma and one case was squamous cell carcinoma. No expression of p53 in invasive lobular carcinoma [ILC] was detected

Surgical margins factors determining the extent of tumor resection in breast cancer patients treated by conservative surgery

A total of 102 female patients proven to have breast carcinoma was treated by modified radical mastectomy. Risk factors of local recurrence [tumor size, histological type and grade, presence of extensive intraductal component [EIC], vascular invasion and lymph node status] in addition to resection margins were examined. Immunohistochemical expression of adhesion molecule CD44 and prognostic marker C-erb B-2 were evaluated and correlated to the extent of tumor spread beyond the primary site. Tumor bed biopsies from the modified radical mastectomy specimens were taken at distances from 1-6 cm at six positions [anterior, posterior, lateral, medial, upper and lower] and examined for tumor extension. Risk factors of local recurrence in breast carcinoma [histological type, grade, EIC and lymph node status], in addition to adhesion molecule CD44 and prognostic marker C-erb B-2 should be considered in the selection of patients for conservative lumpectomy treatment and in determining the extent of surgical resection. A safety margin of 3 cm is considered to be sufficient in cases of invasive duct carcinoma without intraductal component