Unusual functions of insect vitellogenins: minireview.

Insect vitellogenins are an intriguing class of complex proteins. They primarily serve as a source of energy for the developing embryo in insect eggs. Vitellogenesis is a complex hormonally and neurally controlled process that command synthesis of vitellogenin molecules and ensures their transport from the female fat bodies or ovarial cells into eggs. The representatives of all insect hormones such as juvenile hormones, ecdysteroids, and neurohormones participate in vitellogenesis, but juvenile hormones (most insect species) and ecdysteroids (mostly Diptera) play the most important roles in the process. Strikingly, not only insect females, but also males have been reported to synthesize vitellogenins indicating their further utility in the insect body. Indeed, it has recently been found that vitellogenins perform a variety of biological functions in the insect body. They participate in defense reactions against entomopathogens such as nematodes, fungi, and bacteria, as well as against venoms such as the honeybee Apis mellifera venom. Interestingly, vitellogenins are also present in the venom of the honeybee itself, albeit their exact role is unknown; they most likely increase the efficacy of the venom in the victim's body. Within the bee's body vitellogenins contribute to the lifespan regulation as anti-aging factor acting under tight social interactions and hormonal control. The current minireview covers all of these functions of vitellogenins and portrays them as biologically active substances that play a variety of significant roles in both insect females and males, and not only acting as passive energy sources for developing embryo.

[Inflammatory reaction and its importance in the course of tumour process]. / Zánetlivá reakce a její význam v prubehu nádorového procesu.

This article gives basic information about the formation and the course of the inflammatory reaction, which is the important adaptation mechanism of the organism on the various external and internal injurants. The main attention is fixated on the role of the immune system in the course of the inflammatory reaction. It deals with the presence and the sense of the inflammatory reaction in the tumour environment in more detail. It gives the short information about the mechanisms of the antitumour defence. The influence ofthe inflammatory reaction on the genesis, the course and the progression of the tumour disease is discussed in the third chapter.

Determination of angiogenic factors in serum by protein array in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Using the protein array method we determined the serum levels of a number of angiogenic factors. We identified serum levels of angiogenin, PDGF and MCP-1 (CCL2 chemokine) in serum of 32 patients with RCC, and 14 healthy volunteers by means of antibody array analysis. The patients were divided into three groups according to their disease stages (I+II, III, and IV). We found significant differences between the controls and patients with RCC both pre-operatively and post-operatively in angiogenin, PDGF and MCP-1 serum levels. The increase in angiogenin, PDGF and MCP-1 lasted in patients with RCC stages I-III even without metastases eight weeks post-operatively. The patients with stage IV RCC showed disturbed production of PDGF and MCP-1. Protein array analysis is a powerful tool for the identification of large numbers of trace proteins. Multiplex antibody array is able to provide data more precisely reflecting the nature of pathological processes.

[Monitoring of anti-tumour cell-mediated response in patients with renal cell carcinoma, disturbance of T cell proliferation]. / Sledování protinádorové bunecné imunitní odezvy u nemocných s renálním karcinomem, porucha proliferace T-lymfocytu.

INTRODUCTION: When checking tumour growth, a number of observations indicate that the immune system plays a significant role in patients with renal cell carcinoma (,,RCC"). Infiltration by lymphocytes (tumour infiltrating lymphocytes, "TILs") is more prevalent in RCC than any other tumours. T lymphocytes are the dominant population of TIL cells. Views concerning the role ofT lymphocytic subpopulations, B lymphocytes and NK cells in an anti-tumour response are not established. AIM: The aim is to determine the phenotype and activation of lymphocytic cells and to compare their representation in tumour stroma (TIL), peripheral blood (PBL) and renal vein blood in patients with RCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The samples of peripheral blood taken from the cubital and renal veins and tumour stroma cells were obtained from 60 patients in the course of their surgeries carried out due to primary RCC. TILs were isolated from mechanically disintegrated tumour tissue. Immunophenotype multiparametric analysis of PBL and TILs was carried out. Their surface and activation characteristics were determined by means of flow cytometer. RESULTS: CD3+ T lymphocytes (70.4%) were the main population of TILs. The number of CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in TILs, 39.7% (p < 0.01), while CD4+ T lymphocytes were the majority population in peripheral blood, 41.35% (p < 0.001). The representation of CD3+/69+ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in TILs, 32.05%, compared to PBL (p < 0.001). On the contrary, the numbers of CD3+/CD25+, CD8+/57+ and CD4+/RA+ (naive CD4+ T lymphocytes) were higher in PBL (p < 0.001). The differences in representation of (CD3+/16+ 56+) NK cells and CD3+/DR+ T cells in TILs and PBL were not significant. CONCLUSION: The above-mentioned results prove that the characteristics and intensity of anti-tumour responses are different in compared compartments (tumour/PBL). CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes are the dominant lymphocytic population of TILs. The knowledge of phenotype and functions ofeffector cells, which are responsible for anti-tumour response, are the basic precondition for understanding the anti-tumour immune response and the cause of its failure.

[Tumor angiogenesis]. / Nádorová angiogeneze.

Angiogenesis have shown a major role in tumor growth and metastasis formation. For tumor growth beyond the size 1-2 mm3, angiogenesis must be started to form vascular supply of tumor cells. Angiogenesis is a complex process, involving degradation of the basement membrane of preexisting vessel, proliferation of endothelial cells towards the angiogenetic stimulus, maturation of endothelial cells with formation of luminized capillary, and finally formation of a functional vessel, surrounded by basement membrane and pericytes. Angiogenesis is regulated by numerous angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors. Hypoxia is a significant stimulus for angiogenesis. For many cancers the extent of vascularisation is a negative prognostic indicator signifying aggressive disease and increased potential for metastasis.