RESUMEN
Peyronie's disease is characterized by fibrous plaque formation of the tunica albuginea, causing penile deformity and fertility problems. The aim of the present study was to investigate alterations in the extracellular matrix in Peyronie's disease. The study used tissues collected by surgical procedure from individuals that presented a well-established disease, while control samples were obtained by biopsies of fresh cadavers. Immunohistochemistry analysis followed by digital quantification was performed to evaluate TGF-ß, heparanases and metalloproteinases (MMPs). The profile of sulfated glycosaminoglycans, chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis, while hyaluronic acid quantification was obtained by an ELISA-like assay. The expression of mRNA was investigated for syndecan-1 proteoglycan (Syn-1), interleukine-6 (IL-6), hyaluronic acid synthases, and hyaluronidases. Pathologic features showed decreased apoptosis and blood vessel number in Peyronie's tissues. TGF-ß and IL-6 were significantly enhanced in Peyronie's disease. There was an increased expression of heparanases, though no alteration was observed for MMPs. Hyaluronic acid as well as hyaluronic acid synthases, hyaluronidases, and dermatan sulfate were not changed, while the level of chondroitin sulfate was significantly (P = 0.008, Mann-Whitney test) increased in Peyronie's samples. Heparanases and sulfated glycosaminoglycans seem to be involved in extracellular matrix alterations in Peyronie's disease.
RESUMEN
O cancer é uma das principais causas de morte no mundo, e a busca da cura desse mal é uma das principais preocupações da medicina moderna. Neste sentido, na última década dois nomes têm se destacado no estudo do crescimento tumoral e a busca da cura: Judah Folkman e Michael O`Reilly. Seus estudos sobre a angiogênese tumoral permitiram a identificação de dois agentes, angiostatina e endostatina, que mostram grande potencial na terapêutica antineoplásica, agindo justamente na inibição dessa angiogênese. O marco desse estudo foi a observação clínica e laboratorial do rápido crescimento e disseminação de imúmeros focos tumorais após a retirada de um tumor primário. Conclui-se, portanto, que a presença deste inibia de alguma forma o crescimento dos demais focos. Essas duas novas substâncias vêm se somar às várias terapias antiangiogênicas tumorais em estudo, como o trombospondin, interferon, inibidores das metaloproteinases; porém com a vantagem de serem até o presente momento, sem efeitos colaterais...