Endosialin (Tem1) is a marker of tumor-associated myofibroblasts and tumor vessel-associated mural cells.

Endosialin (Tem1) has been identified by two independent experimental approaches as an antigen of tumor-associated endothelial cells, and it has been claimed to be the most abundantly expressed tumor endothelial antigen, making it a prime candidate for vascular targeting purposes. Recent experiments have challenged the endothelial expression of endosialin and suggested an expression by activated fibroblasts and pericytes. Thus, clarification of the controversial cellular expression of endosialin is critically important for an understanding of its role during tumor progression and its validation as a potential therapeutic target. We have therefore performed extensive expression profiling analyses of endosialin. The experiments unambiguously demonstrate that endosialin is expressed by tumor-associated myofibroblasts and mural cells and not by endothelial cells. Endosialin expression is barely detectable in normal human tissues with moderate expression only detectable in the stroma of the colon and the prostate. Corresponding cellular experiments confirmed endosialin expression by mesenchymal cells and indicated that it may in fact be a marker of mesenchymal stem cells. Silencing endosialin expression in fibroblasts strongly inhibited migration and proliferation. Collectively, the experiments validate endosialin as a marker of tumor-associated myofibroblasts and tumor vessel-associated mural cells. The data warrant further functional analysis of endosialin during tumor progression and its exploitation as marker of tumor vessel-associated mural cells, expression of which may reflect the non-normalized phenotype of the tumor vasculature.

Effects of plaque, psychological stress and gender on crevicular Il-1beta and Il-1ra secretion.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to analyse (a) whether the effects of psychological stress and of experimental gingivitis on interleukin-1beta (Il-1beta) described before are compensated by concomitant increases in Il-1 receptor antagonist (Il-1ra), and (b) whether there do exist any gender differences in the Il-1 responses to experimental gingivitis and to psychological stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen medical students participating in a major academic exam (seven males, six females) and 14 medical students without academic stress (eight males, six females) refrained from oral hygiene in two antagonistic quadrants for 28 days (plaque) while they maintained oral hygiene in the remaining quadrants (hygiene). Weekly crevicular fluid samples of plaque and hygiene sites were assayed for Il-1beta and Il-1ra. RESULTS: Neither stress nor experimental gingivitis exerted significant effects on Il-1ra. In controls, we observed significant gender and gender x time effects on Il-1beta; comparing stress groups, gender x time and stress x gender x time interactions became significant. Women show a reduced Il-1beta response to plaque at rest and an increased response under stress. Similar results were found with respect to bleeding on probing. CONCLUSIONS: Gender must be controlled in studies on periodontal responses to pathogens. Stress plays a role in these responses.

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in school children and salivary IgA--an epidemiological study in a rural area of Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany.

An elevated frequency of wheezing was found in school children in a rural area of Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany (Duhme and Keil, Institut für Epidemiologie und Sozialmedizin, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany 1997). In this study the prevalence of wheezing was reinvestigated by including main influencing factors. A cross-sectional survey was performed in all school children visiting school classes 1, 2 and 7, 8 (n = 1161). Two corresponding questionnaires were used: a parental questionnaire and a questionnaire for self-completion by the children aged 12-15. The latter included the ISAAC video questionnaire. The levels of immunoglobulins A, G and M were determined in 995 saliva samples. Testing of lung function (whole body plethysmography before and after physical exercise) was performed in children with and without parent-reported wheezing in the last 12 months (n = 377). Response rate (questionnaire: 93%) and participation rates (saliva samples: 86%, lung function tests: 93%) were high. Our study confirmed higher prevalence of asthmatic symptoms in children aged 6-8 in Ochtrup (13.2%) compared to children of the same age in Muenster (8.5% (Duhme et al., Eur. Respir. J. 11, 840-847, 1998)). However, in the age group 12-15 years the prevalence was significantly lower in Ochtrup (9.8%), when compared to the former investigation and in comparison to Muenster (former survey: 17.9%; Muenster: 13.1%). Prevalence of wheezing was consistently higher in families with atopic disease. Additionally, history of respiratory disease, premature birth and presence of pets during 1st year of life showed a positive association with prevalence of wheezing. Mean salivary IgA levels were 61.4 (SD (standard deviation) 35.1, median: 53.7) mg/l in children aged 6-8 years and 83.4 (SD 39.0, median: 76.3) mg/l in children aged 12-15 years. No significant association between salivary immunoglobulins and wheezing was detected.