Hydroa Vacciniforme-Like Lymphoma with Systemic Symptoms: Two Case Reports.

Two Chinese children presented with relapsing papules, vesicles, ulcers on the face and limbs with systemic symptoms being caused by mosquito bite. Lesion biopsy revealed atypical lymphocyte in the dermis and subcutis. Immunohistochemistry identified cells as positive for CD3, CD45RO, TIA-1 and EBER. Taken together, both the patients were diagnosed with hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma. Two patients showed significant improvement in clinical symptoms after being treated with acyclovir, low dose predisone and IFN-α.

Rutaecarpine inhibited imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis via inhibiting the NF-κB and TLR7 pathways in mice.

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. As psoriasis rarely occurs in nonhuman animals, the lack of an ideal animal model reflecting the histopathological and molecular immunological characteristics of psoriasis remains an urgent issue. In the present study, an imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis mouse model was constructed under natural immune conditions and verified by evaluations of the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and Baker score, H&E staining, immunohistochemical examination of the CD3 and Gr1 levels, measurement of plasmacytoid dendritic cell- (pDC) and Th17-associated cytokine levels, and evaluation of p65 phosphorylation and TLR7 expression. Moreover, rutaecarpine (RUT), the main active ingredient in the traditional Chinese medicine Wu-Zhu-Yu, could improve psoriasis-like dermatitis through effects on pDC- and Th17-associated cytokines through NF-κB and toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) signaling. Taken together, the imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis mouse model can be regarded as an ideal model for evaluating psoriasis pathogenesis and antipsoriatic drugs. We provided theoretical and experimental evidence for the clinical application of RUT in psoriasis.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and family survey: a case report.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare inherited autosomal dominant disease characterized by mucocutaneous pigmentation and multiple polyps in the gastrointestinal tract. We report on an 18-year-old Chinese male who complained with pigmentation on face and extremities for over 10 years. Colonoscopy revealed more than ten polyps from transverse colon to rectum. The family survey included 15 family members from three generations, and 6 PJSs (4 males and 2 females) were found. This case is reported because of its rarity of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and the survey of family history.

NK-/T-cell lymphoma resembling hydroa vacciniforme with positive CD4 marker expression: a diagnostic difficulty.

A 35-year-old Chinese woman presented with a 2.5-year history of facial swelling in the left lower quadrant and a 10-month history of relapsing red papules and vesicles in the perioral area resembling hydroa vacciniforme. Histologically, a tissue biopsy showed a dense infiltration of medium-sized atypical lymphocytic cells expressing CD4 and CD56. A diagnosis of cutaneous NK-/T-cell lymphoma was made. The patient was treated with alpha-interferon, valaciclovir hydrochloride, and low-dose prednisone for 2 months. Her skin lesions and lymphoadenopathy resolved initially, but she succumbed to the disease shortly after starting chemotherapy treatment 11 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first case of CD4CD56 NK-/T-cell lymphoma with clinical features resembling hydroa vacciniforme.

[Effects of hypoxia inducible factor-1 α siRNA on inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in HaCaT cells].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of hypoxia inducible factor -1α (HIF-1α) small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the expression of HIF-1α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in HaCaT cells under hypoxia. METHODS: HaCaT cells were divided into 4 groups: the normal control group (without any treatment), the hypoxia group (under hypoxia for 24 h), the liposome control group (HaCaT cells transfected with liposome before hypoxia treatment), the RNA interference group (HaCaT cells transfected with siRNA sequences then under hypoxia for 24 h). Real-time PCR and Western blot were utilized to determine HIF-1α and iNOS mRNA and protein expression in HaCaT cells. RESULTS: There was no significant difference of the mRNA expression of HIF-1α between the hypoxia group and the normoxia group (P>0.05), but the protein expressions of HIF-1α was increased in the hypoxic group than that in the normoxia group (P<0.05). Both the mRNA and protein expression of iNOS were increased in hypoxic conditions than that in the normoxia (P<0.05). Decreases were more significant in the mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1α and iNOS in the RNA interference group than that in the liposome control group in HaCaT cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Hypoxia increased HIF-1α and iNOS expression in HaCaT cells and inhibition of HIF-1α expression decreased iNOS expression.

Inhibitive effect of triptolide on invasiveness of human fibrosarcoma cells by downregulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanisms of antitumor properties of triptolide, a bioactive component isolated from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wolfordii Hook F. METHODS: Human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells were treated with different doses of triptolide for 72 h. Then the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 were measured and the invasiveness of triptolide-treated HT-1080 cells was compared with that of anti-MMP-9-treated HT-1080 cells. RESULTS: 18 nmol/L triptolide inhibited the gene expression and activity of MMP-9, but not those of MMP-2, in HT-1080 cells. In addition, both 18 nmol/L triptolide and 3 µg/mL anti-MMP-9 significantly reduced the invasive potential of HT-1080 cells, by about 50% and 35%, respectively, compared with the control. Whereas there was no significant difference between the effect of 18 nmol/L triptolide and that of anti-MMP-9 on invasive potential of HT-1080 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that triptolide inhibits tumor cell invasion partly by reducing MMP-9 gene expression and activity.

[Expression of iNOS and HIF-1α with angiogenesis in affected skin biopsies from patients with psoriasis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF-1) α in psoriatic lesions,and to explore their relationship with angiogenesis in psoriasis. METHODS: HIF-1α and iNOS protein were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot in 32 cases of psoriasis and 20 healthy controls,and CD34 marking vascular endothelial cells were used to measure the microvascular density (MVD). RESULTS: The expressions of HIF-1α and iNOS protein were very weak in the control skin, but very strong in psoriatic lesions, which showed significant difference in the expressions of iNOS and HIF-1α between the psoriasis and the control group(P<0.05). Expression of HIF-1α (r=0.743, P<0.01) and iNOS (r=0.639,P<0.01) had positive correlation with MVD in psoriasis respectively. There was a positive correlation between iNOS and HIF-1α expression in psoriasis (r=0.717, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Both iNOS and HIF-1α have high expression in psoriasis and might play an important role in the genesis and development of psoriasis.

A case of retiform-hemangioendothelioma with unusual presentation and aggressive clinical features.

Retiform hemangioendothelioma (RH) is an extremely rare low-grade angiosarcoma mainly involving the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Clinically patients often present with an asymptomatic slow-growing solitary nodular or plaque-like lesion. RH is characterized by frequent local recurrences but a very low metastatic rate. Here we reported a case of RH in a 61-year-old Chinese woman who presented with a rapid growing cutaneous plaque-like lesion on her right scalp, followed by another lesion behind the right ear. The lesions were associated with paroxysmal sharp needle-stabbing like headache. She underwent wide excision and skin engraftment. Three months post surgery, she experienced tumor recurrence, and died 9 months after the initial diagnosis.

Acute stress enhances contact dermatitis by promoting nuclear factor-kappaB DNA-binding activity and interleukin-18 expression in mice.

Psychological stress adversely affects the immune system, and aggravates various skin diseases, such as psoriasis, alopecia areata and atopic dermatitis. However, the precise underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The goal of this study was to use a murine restraint stress model to determine the mechanisms by which psychological stress modulates immune response in contact dermatitis. In the present study, mice were sensitized and challenged on the skin with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Acute restraint stress was administrated to healthy or sensitized mice before challenge, and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB DNA-binding activation of nuclear protein and expression of interleukin (IL)-18 mRNA in murine spleen lymphocytes was detected. Chemical sympathectomy was performed using the neurotoxin 6-hydroxy-dopamine to determine the effect of the sympathetic nervous system. The experiment showed that restraint stress induced a series of changes which include increasing of NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity and IL-18 mRNA expression in spleen lymphocytes and enhancement of contact hypersensitivity response, and these changes may be mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. These findings provide new insights into the roles of the nervous system in the aggravation of skin diseases.

[Triptolide evaluates DNA methylation level of matrix metalloproteinase 9 gene in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells].

OBJECTIVE: The effect of triptolide on the DNA methylation level of MMP-9 gene and the mRNA expression of tissue inhibitors of met-alloproteinases (TIMPs) were examined in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells to explore the molecular mechanisms involved in the anticancer activity of triptolide. METHOD: HT-1080 cells were cultured in MEM containing 10% newborn calf serum and 1% penicillin-streptomycin. Triptolide was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at a concentration of 1 goL-1 and stored at -20 degrees C. Triptolide was freshly diluted with culture medium perior to use and directly added to cell cultures at the indicated concentration, and incubated for 72 hours at 37 degrees C in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2, with changes of reagents every 24 hours. Methylation specific PCR (MSP)was applied to assess the methylation status of MMP-9 gene promoter, and semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to measure the mRNA expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells after 72 hours of treatment with 6 nmol x L(-1), 12 nmol x L(-1) or 18 nmol x L(-1) triptolide, respectively. RESULTS: The methylation index of MMP-9 gene promoter was statistically elevated in HT-1080 cells after 72 hours of treatment with 18 nmol L(-1) triptolide, compared with those in controls (0.61 +/- 0.10 vs 0.39 +/- 0.10, P < 0.05), while no significant difference was noted between 6 nmol x L(-1) or 12 nmol x L(-1) triptolide treated HT-1080 cells and controls (0.40 +/- 0.15 vs 0.39 +/- 0.10, 0.46 +/- 0.20 vs 0.39 +/- 0.10, respectively, both P > 0.05). The mRNA expression of TIMP-1, -2, -3 or -4 was not significantly changed in HT-1080 cells after 72 hours of treatment with the indicated concentrations of triptolide, respectively compared with those in controls (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that triptolide upregulates the methylation level of MMP-9 gene in HT-1080 cells in vitro.

[Effects of 5-azaC on methylation pattern of the perforin promoter of the perforin gene in normal human T cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of DNA hypomethylation on mRNA and protein expression of perforin promotor in T cells. METHODS: T cells were isolated from the peripheral venous blood of healthy donors by density gradient centrifugation. CD4(+) and CD8(+) subsets were isolated using Miltenyi beads and protocols provided by the manufacturer. Where indicated the T cells were stimulated with PHA for 24 h, then treated with 5-azaC for an additional 72 h. Genomic DNA, mRNA, and protein were isolated from untreated and 5-azaC-treated T cells. Purified DNA was treated with sodium bisulfite, the desired sequences were amplified in sequential fragments using nested PCR. The amplified fragments were cloned into bacteria DH5 alpha and 5 independent clones for each of the amplified fragments were sequenced. The expression of perforin was determined using real time RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: The perforin mRNA and protein in the CD4(+) and CD8(+) subsets treated with 5-azaC were significantly higher than those in the untreated subsets (P<0.05). The results of bisulfite genomic sequencing showed that the methylation of perforin promotor was significantly reduced in the treated cells compared with the untreated cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The mRNA and protein expression of perforin significantly increases in the CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells treated with 5-azaC,which is associated with DNA hypomethylation of perforin promoter in T cells.

[Serum levels of antibodies for IgG, IgA, and IgM against the fungi antigen in psoriasis vulgaris].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the serum levels of antibodies against Malassezia further and Candida albicans in patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV), and to investigate the relationship between Malassezia furfur or Candida albicans and pathogenesis of PV. METHODS: The serum levels of antibodies for IgG, IgA, and IgM against the whole cell antigen Wag and soluble antigen (Sag) of Malassezia fufur and Candida albicans in 40 PV patients and 20 healthy controls were detected by indirect-ELISA, RESULTS: The serum levels of IgG against Wag of Malassezia furfur and Candida albicans were significantly higher in PV patients than those in the healthy controls (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively), The serum levels of IgM against Sag of Malassezia furfur and Candida albican, IgA against Sag of Candida albicans were significantly lower in PV patients than those in the healthy controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There are some humoral immunity abnormalties in PV patients. Malassezia furfur and Candida albicans may be related to the pathogenesis of PV.