ABSTRACT
Malignant gliomas are the most common type of primary malignant brain tumours, characterized by extreme proliferation and aggressive invasion. There is evidence for over-expression of the YKL40 gene in high-grade gliomas. The high serum levels of the glycoprotein are associated with poor prognosis of various inflammatory and tumour processes. We investigated the YKL40 mRNA level and protein expression in the tumour site and in the serum of high-grade glioma patients. The YKL-40 expression in 36 patients with glial tumours (astrocytoma grade III, glioblastoma) and 33 age-matched healthy persons was measured by gene analysis, immunohistochemistry and ELISA. YKL-40 serum levels in high-grade glioma patients compared to healthy subjects were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05). A wide range of variability in YKL40 mRNA expression was found. YKL-40 staining in situ was more abundant in glioblastoma tissue than in anaplastic astrocytoma, with the lowest level in normal brain tissue. Our gene analysis revealed that in general, YKL40 mRNA in glioma patients was over-expressed versus normal brain. A significant correlation between YKL40 transcript and protein levels was observed (P ≤ 0.05). It could be speculated that the YKL-40 protein might contribute to glioblastomas' specific biological characteristics that distinguish them from grade III gliomas. A complex investigation of YKL40 expression was performed at the molecular and cellular levels in human high-grade gliomas. Serum YKL-40 concentrations increased with tumour grade and correlated positively with transcript rate, being the highest in glioblastoma. We provide evidence for a relationship between YKL40 expression and the malignancy of glial tumours.
Subject(s)
Adipokines/biosynthesis , Brain Neoplasms/metabolism , Glioma/metabolism , Lectins/biosynthesis , Neoplasm Proteins/biosynthesis , Adipokines/blood , Adipokines/genetics , Adult , Aged , Astrocytoma/metabolism , Astrocytoma/pathology , Astrocytoma/therapy , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Brain Neoplasms/therapy , Case-Control Studies , Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1 , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Glioblastoma/metabolism , Glioblastoma/pathology , Glioblastoma/therapy , Glioma/pathology , Glioma/therapy , Humans , Lectins/blood , Lectins/genetics , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Grading , Neoplasm Proteins/blood , Neoplasm Proteins/genetics , Prognosis , RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Neoplasm/biosynthesis , RNA, Neoplasm/genetics , Up-RegulationABSTRACT
The present work is focused on examining the effect of the structurally similar dental monomers bis-GA and bis-GMA on the expression of histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) in comparison with fibroblast vitality and proliferation. The fibroblast cell line McCoy-Plovdiv was cultivated in a serum-free medium and was treated with both monomers. Cell vitality was measured by the crystal violet test. Mitotic index and cell morphology were assessed. An immunocytochemical technique was applied to follow the expression of proliferative antigens PCNA and Ki-67 and of HBGA. The expression level of HBGA was measured by an improved pixel selection algorithm with proprietary software. The lowest concentration of 2.5 micromol/L did not significantly affect morphology, vitality, or proliferation activity. Interestingly, the quantitative analysis revealed augmented expression of HBGA B at 2.5 micromol/L. The higher concentrations of the dental monomers reduced cell vitality and mitotic indices and altered proliferative antigen expression. Bis-GA proved to be more toxic than bis-GMA and caused more prominent alterations including greater enhancement of HBGA B expression. We present novel evidence for altered expression of proliferative antigens and enhanced expression of HBGA B in fibroblasts treated with dental monomers bis-GA and bis-GMA suggesting that these substances affect cell morphology, proliferative activity, and antigenic profile.
Subject(s)
Acrylates/pharmacology , Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate/pharmacology , Blood Group Antigens/metabolism , Fibroblasts/cytology , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Animals , Cell Line , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cell Shape/drug effects , Cell Survival/drug effects , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism , Mice , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism , SerumABSTRACT
Human blood group antigens (BGA) are genetically determined glycoproteins found in many cells and tissues of different mammals. Their major biological functions are still undefined. There are few investigations analysing the evolutionary aspect of BGA tissue distribution. The present study is aimed at examining the expression of human A and B antigens in the kidney and lung of some free-living vertebrates. The biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase immunostaining system was applied on kidney and lung paraffin sections derived from free-living representatives of five different vertebrate classes. Excluding the possibility of any non-specific staining by the application of inhibition tests, A and B antigens were demonstrated most constantly in epithelial cells of renal and respiratory tubules. They were also detected in chondrocytes of fish gills, in some muscular and endothelial cells. Single erythrocytes showed a positive cytoplasmic staining only in some higher vertebrates. Human BGA seem to be conserved carbohydrate structures with biological functions probably related to cell integrity and differentiation.
