Emerging role of CXCL8 in squamous cell lung carcinoma

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in industrialized countries. CXCL8 is a cytokine that has been shown to exert effects relevant to cancer growth and progression. There are few reports on the clinical roles of CXCL8 in lung cancer progression. The aim of our study was to evaluate the serum levels of CXCL8 and the tissue expression of Bcl-2 and p53 in squamous cell lung cancer patients in order to explore the possible diagnostic role of CXCL8 in squamous cell lung cancer and to clarify the relationship of these markers to each other and with classical clinicopathological factors. Serum and tissue samples were obtained from 50 patients who underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy for squamous cell lung carcinoma. The tissue expression of both Bcl-2 and p53 proteins in the malignant and control groups were evaluated by ELISA and Western blot. Serum levels of CXCL8 were measured by ELISA. They showed significant increase in the malignant group versus the control group. Regarding the different clinicopathological factors, serum CXCL8 showed significant increase with the histological grades and stages. While no statistical difference was found in the median levels of Bcl-2, p53 as regards the different stages and only p53 showed statistical difference as regards the different histological grades. Concerning the levels of the three investigated biomarkers to each other, p53 and CXCL8 were the only biomarkers that demonstrated a significant correlation. CXCL8 also showed higher sensitivity and specificity in comparison to the other parameters

Potential antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of eplerenone versus omeprazole on water immersion restraint stress induced gastric injury in rats

Use of proton pump inhibitors as omeprazole in prophylaxis against gastric stress ulcers complicating acute myocardial infarction leads to serious cardiovascular events. Eplerenone is one of the drugs used in treatment of acute myocardial infarction. We have investigated in the current study the possible protective effects of eplerenone versus omeprazole against water immersion restraint stress-induced gastric injury in rats. Twenty four male white albino wistar rats were divided into four groups having six rats in each. These groups were normal control, stress non treated control and two stress groups pretreated with either eplerenone [100 mg/kg i.p] or omeprazole [8 mg/kg i.p]. The injury index of gastric mucosa and structural change of parietal cells was observed under scanned electron microscope. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl were quantified in gastric tissues as biomarkers of lipid peroxidation and protein damage respectively. Apoptosis was assessed by measuring DNA fragmentation%. The injury index, Malondialdehyde level, protein carbonyl content and DNA fragmentation% parameters were significantly decreased in water immersion restraint stress groups pretreated with either eplerenone or omeprazole [p<0.05]. The scanned electron microscope of eplerenone pretreated group showed significant reduction in the degree of damage while the omeprazole pretreated group showed nearly complete healing. Our results demonstrated that gastric lesions attenuation by eplerenone are through its antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects and therefore it can be regarded as a useful option for therapy of patients with acute myocardial infarction at risk of developing gastric stress ulcers and threatened gastrointestinal bleeding risk