ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an epitheliotropic, double-stranded DNA virus, and its high-risk genotypes are associated with human cancer. HPV genome has been detected in lung carcinomas in certain places around the world, including Mexico; however, the prevalence of this is unclear. In this study, we examine the frequency of high-risk HPV 16/18 in lung cancer tissues from a Mexican population. METHODS: 39 lung cancer specimens were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using HPV GP5+/GP6+ primers and then were genotyped using specific primers to HPV 16/18. Additionally, in situ hybridization (ISH) was performed using BIO-labeled oligonucleotide probes. RESULTS: Our results identified 15 positive cases (38.46%) for HPV 16 and 1 positive case (2.56%) for HPV 18 by PCR. ISH showed the presence of HPV DNA in 13 of 16 (81%) samples, in agreement with the PCR results. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we detected HPV 16/18 gene sequences in lung cancer samples obtained from Mexican patients by PCR and ISH. We found the highest prevalence of HPV 16 infection in lung adenocarcinomas, suggesting that HPV infection may be associated with lung cancer. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the role of HPV in lung carcinogenesis.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/virology , Human papillomavirus 16/isolation & purification , Human papillomavirus 18/isolation & purification , Lung Neoplasms/virology , Papillomavirus Infections/epidemiology , Papillomavirus Infections/virology , Adenocarcinoma/complications , DNA, Viral/genetics , Female , Genotype , Humans , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Lung Neoplasms/complications , Male , Mexico/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Papillomavirus Infections/complications , Polymerase Chain Reaction , PrevalenceABSTRACT
The present studies investigated whether FasL and Bax genes are expressed in pleuro-pulmonary biopsies from patients with lung cancer. FasL, Bax, and TNFalpha mRNAs were detected in 19 biopsies of primary or metastasic lung cancer by fluorescent in situ hybridization assays. Fluorescent probes were produced by polymerase chain reaction using a human spleen lambda gt11 library and specific primers for FasL, Bax, and TNFalpha. Proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal anti- FasL, anti-Bax, and anti-TNFalpha antibodies. Chromatin fragmentation was detected by TUNEL. Seven negative samples from subjects without lung pathology were obtained during legal autopsies and 12 positive control biopsies from patients with lung infections were also included. Sixty-eight percent of lung cancer biopsies exhibited FasL; Bax was expressed in 68% and TNFalpha in 63%. FasL protein was detected in 21%, Bax protein in 26%, and TNFalpha was present in 31% of cancer biopsies. A low degree of apoptosis in lung cancer was demonstrated by TUNEL assays. A defect in FasL, Bax, and TNFalpha gene expression was found in lung cancer biopsies. Some tumors normally expressed the mRNA of FasL, Bax, or TNFalpha, but their proteins were absent, or were non-functional, since TUNEL assays were negative. Such a failure would contribute to cancer cell survival and dissemination.
Subject(s)
Lung Neoplasms/chemistry , Membrane Glycoproteins/analysis , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/analysis , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Fas Ligand Protein , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , In Situ Nick-End Labeling , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics , Middle Aged , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics , RNA, Messenger/analysis , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysis , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics , bcl-2-Associated X ProteinABSTRACT
AIM: Assess the expression of FasL, Bax, TNFa and IL-6, genes in salivary glands of primary Sjögren patients. METHODS: Twenty minor salivary glands from patients with primary Sjögren syndrome were studied by in situ hybridization with cDNA fluorescent probes. An equal number of control biopsies were included. RESULTS: Sjögren salivary glands differentially display the inflammatory cytokines and pro-apoptotic mRNAs as follows: mononuclear infiltrating cells exhibited IL-6 and TNFa, whereas the ductal epithelium and acinary cells mainly expressed FasL and Bax. Control biopsies were negative. CONCLUSION: Present data suggest that local production of inflammatory cytokines would induce the Fas and Bax pathways committing the ductal epithelium and the acinary cells to apoptosis.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/genetics , Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics , Salivary Glands, Minor/metabolism , Sjogren's Syndrome/genetics , Adult , Fas Ligand Protein , Female , Gene Expression Regulation , Humans , Male , Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism , Middle Aged , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Sjogren's Syndrome/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , bcl-2-Associated X ProteinABSTRACT
The current studies were carried out to determine the expression of Fas ligand and Bax in kidneys from lupus nephritis as possible indicators of apoptosis. Twenty-four kidney biopsies from patients with lupus nephritis and 30 normal controls were studied for FasL and Bax gene expression by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Seventy percent of the lupus biopsies displayed FasL or Bax mRNAs. These genes were mainly expressed in biopsies with higher activity indices. In contrast, neither of these mediators was detected in normal glomeruli. These data suggest that FasL and Bax are up-regulated in lupus nephritis and may play a pathogenic role through apoptotic cascades.
