Re-examination of the lymphocytotoxic crossmatch in liver transplantation: can C4d stains help in monitoring?

C4d-assisted recognition of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues (FFPE) from donor-specific antibody-positive (DSA+) renal allograft recipients prompted study of DSA+ liver allograft recipients as measured by lymphocytotoxic crossmatch (XM) and/or Luminex. XM results did not influence patient or allograft survival, or cellular rejection rates, but XM+ recipients received significantly more prophylactic steroids. Endothelial C4d staining strongly correlates with XM+ (<3 weeks posttransplantation) and DSA+ status and cellular rejection, but not with worse Banff grading or treatment response. Diffuse C4d staining, XM+, DSA+ and ABO- incompatibility status, histopathology and clinical-serologic profile helped establish an isolated AMR diagnosis in 5 of 100 (5%) XM+ and one ABO-incompatible, recipients. C4d staining later after transplantation was associated with rejection and nonrejection-related causes of allograft dysfunction in DSA- and DSA+ recipients, some of whom had good outcomes without additional therapy. Liver allograft FFPE C4d staining: (a) can help classify liver allograft dysfunction; (b) substantiates antibody contribution to rejection; (c) probably represents nonalloantibody insults and/or complete absorption in DSA- recipients and (d) alone, is an imperfect AMR marker needing correlation with routine histopathology, clinical and serologic profiles. Further study in late biopsies and other tissue markers of liver AMR with simultaneous DSA measurements are needed.

Non-tumoural parenchyma in Leydig cell tumours: pathogenetic considerations.

Little is known about the pathogenesis of Leydig cell tumours (LCTs) of the testis. The observation of several associated dysgenetic features in the non-tumoural parenchyma and in the contralateral testes of men with testicular germ cell neoplasms has served as the basis to propose that there may be a common mechanism for different male reproductive disorders. However, the possible relationship between LCTs and other testicular lesions has not been explored. Here we describe the presence of primary lesions in the non-tumoural parenchyma of testes with LCT, from which we try to establish possible pathogenetic associations. We studied the non-tumoural parenchyma adjacent to 16 LCT specimens. Parameters as Leydig cell hyperplasia (LCHY), qualitative evaluation of the germinal epithelium and spermatogenesis, the presence of Sertoli cell-only tubules (SCOT), and the Sertoli cell nuclear morphology were consistently assessed in all cases. SCOT associated with Sertoli cell dysgenetic morphology was the most frequent finding, present in 50% of the cases. Another interesting finding was the presence of LCHY in four cases (25%). Abnormal spermatogenesis was found in 81.25% of the cases, and it consisted of lesions of the adluminal or basal compartments of seminiferous tubules. The occurrence of either dysgenetic Sertoli cells or LCHY adjacent to LCTs could represent primary anomalies, resulting from a common insult also involved in tumourigenesis. The abnormalities in spermatogenesis observed here are likely to represent consequences of either tumour compression or abnormal hormonal production. The significance of these associations merits further investigation regarding a common pathogenesis.

Tumores renales de la infancia y adolescencia asociados a anomalías cromosómicas / Renal tumors of childhood and adolescence associated with chromosomal anomalies

El riñón pediátrico es sitio frecuente de tumores que exhiben alteraciones cromosómicas características. El más común es el nefroblastoma o tumor de Wilms (TW) que se asocia con dos loci: 11p13 (WT1) y 11p15 (WT2 ó BWS), este último ligado también del síndrome de Beckwith-Wiedemann. Otros dos genes que parecen estar implicados son WT3 y WT4; además, dos anomalías específicas (adquisición 1q y deleción 22) se han correlacionado de manera independiente con un peor pronóstico en TW. Otras neoplasias con rearreglos cromosómicos, tales como los carcinomas renales (CRs), son mucho menos frecuentes en niños (entre el 1.8 y el 6.3% de todos los tumores renales malignos). Entre estos, se han identificado 'CRs con translocación' que afectan el locus Xp11, siendo los dos tipos más importantes t(X;1), y t(X;17). El nefroma mesoblástico congénito (NMC) es un tumor renal de recién nacidos y lactantes. Los NMCs de la variedad celular se caracterizan por una translocación específica t(12;15)(p13;q25), misma que se encuentra también en los fibrosarcomas congénitos extrarenales, y que permite establecer una correspondencia genética entre estos dos tumores (NMC y fibrosarcoma congénito). Los tumores rabdoides (TR) del riñón son neoplasias muy infrecuentes y muy agresivas, que aparecen con una edad promedio de 11 meses. Al menos 50% de los TRs muestran anormalidades en el gen hSNF5/INI1, situado en el locus 22q11.2. Este gen probablemente está involucrado en la modulación transcripcional de otros genes, tales como el oncogen c-Myc, y de la vía de transducción de la proteína RB-retinoblastoma

The pediatric kidney is a common site for tumors carrying specific chomosomal alterations. The most common of these is the nephroblastoma or Wilms tumor (WT), which is associated with anomalies in two loci: 11p13 and 11p15, the latter also linked to Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Two other genes that seem to be implicated are WT3 and WT4. In addition, 1q gains or 22 deletions have been shown to independently be associated with a worst prognosis in WTs. Other neoplasms with chromosomal rearrangements, such as Renal Cell carcinomas (CRs) are much less frequent in children (between 1.8 and 6.3 % of all malignant renal tumors). Among these, the 'translocation renal carcinomas' have been identified involving the locus Xp11 with two main types of translocations: t(X;1), and t(X;17). Congenital mesoblastic nephroma (NMC) is a renal tumor affecting newborns and young infants. NMCs of the cellular type feature a specific translocation t(12;15)(p13;q25), which is also present in congenital fibrosarcomas outside of the kidney. These findings have led to conclude that these two tumors (NMC and congenital fibrosarcoma) are genetically equivalent. Rhabdoid tumors (TRs) of the kidney are very rare and aggressive neoplasms that appear with a mean age of 11 months. At least 50% of these TRs carry abnormalities in the hSNF5/INI1 gene, at 22q11.2. This gene is probably involved in transcriptional modulation of other genes such as the oncogene c-Myc, and also of the retinoblastoma protein RB signaling pathway

[Renal tumors of childhood and adolescence associated with chromosomal anomalies]. / Tumores renales de la infancia y adolescencia asociados a anomalías cromosómicas.

The pediatric kidney is a common site for tumors carrying specific chomosomal alterations. The most common of these is the nephroblastoma or Wilms tumor (WT), which is associated with anomalies in two loci: 11p13 and 11p15, the latter also linked to Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Two other genes that seem to be implicated are WT3 and WT4. In addition, 1q gains or 22 deletions have been shown to independently be associated with a worst prognosis in WTs. Other neoplasms with chromosomal rearrangements, such as Renal Cell carcinomas (CRs) are much less frequent in children (between 1.8 and 6.3% of all malignant renal tumors). Among these, the "translocation renal carcinomas" have been identified involving the locus Xp11 with two main types of translocations: t(X;1), and t(X; 17). Congenital mesoblastic nephroma (NMC) is a renal tumor affecting newborns and young infants. NMCs of the cellular type feature a specific translocation t(12; 15)(p13;q25), which is also present in congenital fibrosarcomas outside of the kidney. These findings have led to conclude that these two tumors (NMC and congenital fibrosarcoma) are genetically equivalent. Rhabdoid tumors (TRs) of the kidney are very rare and aggressive neoplasms that appear with a mean age of 11 months. At least 50% of these TRs carry abnormalities in the hSNF5/INI1 gene, at 22q11.2. This gene is probably involved in transcriptional modulation of other genes such as the oncogene c-Myc, and also of the retinoblastoma protein RB signaling pathway.

Hepatoblastoma and liver development: a study of cytokeratin immunoexpression in twenty-nine hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastomas (HBs) recapitulate liver development. It is possible that HBs result from malignant transformation of hepatic precursor cells, and they may reflect a blockage in normal development. Here we study the expression of cytokeratins (CKs) in order to delineate the immunoprofile and relationship with liver development, as well as vimentin and alphafetoprotein (AFP), of HBs. Immunohistochemistry was performed in a tissue microarray (TMA) containing representative areas of 18 HBs (fetal and/or embryonal and/or mesenchymal); we also reviewed 11 cases not included in the TMA. No cases stained for CKs 1, 5/6, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16, 20, and 34betaE12. CK8 stained 73.07% of fetal, 50% of embryonal, and 18% of mesenchymal areas. CK18 stained 100% of epithelial areas. CK19 staining was intense and diffuse in 100% of embryonal samples, but it was weaker in fetal areas (66.66%). AE1 stained epithelial areas in all cases, and it stained 29.41% of mesenchymal areas. AE3 stained 84.61% of embryonal and 60% of fetal components. AE1/AE3 showed stronger staining in embryonal (100%) than in fetal areas (76.92%). Vimentin staining was strong in embryonal (66.66%) and mesenchymal (84.61%) components but weak in fetal areas (8%). Alphafetoprotein was positive in only 20% of fetal and 70% of embryonal areas. Our results support the hypothesis that immunoexpression of HBs follows the stages of normal liver development. Embryonal areas look less differentiated, expressing vimentin and biliary epithelium CKs, whereas fetal areas display a more developed phenotype, similar to that of mature hepatocytes. These data aid in understanding the ontogenesis of HBs and may be used in histopathological diagnosis