Neural cell adhesion molecule in breast, colon and lung carcinomas.

Neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAM) play an important role in embryogenesis and in some tumors, especially of neuroectodermal origin. In this study, 18 cases of invasive breast carcinoma, 7 cases of sigmoid colon carcinomas and 17 cases of the non-small-cell lung carcinoma were immunostained for NCAM. NCAM expression, usually focal, was observed in some cases only. NCAM was expressed in the membranes, in a fine granular pattern. In 3 cases of breast cancer cytoplasmic localisation of NCAM was also observed, which may suggest its cytoplasmic formation. Furthermore, in 3 cases expression of NCAM in histologically normal ductal lobular units adjacent to invasive breast cancers without the presence of this antigen in cancer tissue was observed. The immunostaining was weak or absent in sigmoid colon carcinomas. In this study we confirm the observation of some authors that NCAM expression occurs in some cases of non-small-cell lung carcinomas.

Malformations of angiogenesis in the low differentiated human carcinomas. immunohistochemical study.

Our previous observations showed that the perivascular mesenchyma of the thin-walled vessels (capillaries) in cancers may be the source of organ-specific stem cells. We suggested that the cells forming vascular channels in altered stroma participate in the tumor development. This study was designed to examine the distribution of the vessels and their appearance in the breast, lung and colon cancers. Using immunohistochemical methods, we have shown that in the low differentiated tumors both CD31 and factor VIII antigens may be expressed in capillaries chiefly on the periphery of neoplastic foci. Many of these vessels were discontinuous, with interruptions or unformed tubules. Sporadically, CD31 protein and factor VIII antigens were not expressed in capillaries inside the very low differentiated cancer cases. It is difficult to assess by immunohistochemical means whether the vascular malformations are the primary or secondary phenomena in the malignancy and why these abnormalities were especially visible in some low differentiated cancers.

Molecular subtypes of the HLA-DR antigens in pulmonary tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze association between HLA-DRB1 alleles and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the Polish population. METHODS: The HLA-DRB1 typing was performed using sequence-specific amplification (polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primer [PCR-SSP] in 31 patients and 58 healthy volunteers. The DRB1 primers were supplied by DYNAL in the standard kit DYNAL DR "low-resolution"-SSP. RESULTS: The study showed that the DRB1*16 alleles frequency was higher in patients with PTB than in the tested group of healthy controls (P < 0.01). When HLA-DR2 alleles were combined (i.e., the DRB1*15 with DRB1*16 alleles), their frequency was comparable with that in the healthy individuals. The highest relative risk (RR) of tuberculosis was associated with DRB1*16 alleles (RR = 9.7). When HLA-DR6 alleles were combined (i.e., the DRB1*13 with DRB1*14 alleles), only a trend for higher frequency in patients with PTB was found. Frequency of DRB1*13 alleles of HLA-DR6 was significantly lower in PTB than in the healthy individuals (P < 0.001; RR = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that the presence of HLA-DRB1*16 alleles may increase the risk of development of PTB, whereas HLA-DRB1*13 alleles may be resistant to tuberculosis.

Immunohistochemical study in breast carcinoma. S100-protein positive cells and neuroendocrine differentiation.

In this study S100-protein positive cells were found in all 12 cases of benign dysplastic changes and in all of the investigated 53 cases of breast carcinomas. These cells belong to interdigitating cells (IDC) and were located in a regular pattern in the basal cell layer of the ducts and alveolar nodules in benign lesions. However, in breast carcinomas S100-protein positive IDC were in various pattern of distribution; only in the stroma, in basal cell layer, between cancer cells and S100-protein positivity of IDC and epithelial cancer cells. This phenomenon suggests the antigenic modulation of cancer cells transferring them the property of S100-protein positive cells or it may be the consequence of fusion. Immunoreactivity for chromogranin A (ChgA) and synaptophysin (Syn) was found in epithelial cells in some cases of benign dysplastic changes. However, in some carcinoma cases ChgA and Syn were revealed in carcinoma cells, in myoepithelial cells, in some stromal mesenchymal cells and endothelial cells. Immunoreactivity to smooth muscle actin was shown in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the vessel's wall, in myoepithelial cells and was also sporadic in carcinoma cells.

Estimation of some agents of humoral and cell-mediated immunological response in the families of children with food allergy.

The humoral and cellular agents involved in allergic reactions were examined in 85 persons from 25 families of children with food allergy. The raised level of immunoglobulin M, the lowered levels of C3 and C4 fractions of complement and the increase in the contents of immunological complexes were the abnormalities most frequently met both in food allergic children and their parents. The incidence of the lowered level of IgA in serum was also significant. However, the abnormal results of cellular tests were more often found in the children with food allergy than in their parents. Especially the normal Helper/Suppressor ratio prevailed in the parents (81.6%) as compared to their children (47.6%).

Heterospecific activity of rat interferon.

In the experiments performed in vitro and in vivo it has been found that the rat and rat embryo fibroblasts cultured in vitro after the induction with virus produce interferon which displays the antiviral activity not only in the homologous cells but also in the heterologous ones. When analysed by chromatography on Sephadex G-100 it was shown that the rat serum contains two interferon populations differing in the molecular weight and both active in the homologous and heterologous cells. The interferon with the heterospecific activity has been used in the experimental therapy of mice infected with Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMC), Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) and Influenza Virus, and was found to be effective.

Rat interferons. Homologous and heterologus rat serum activity.

Serum proteins from normal rat serum and induced with Sindbis virus were separated on Sephadex G-100. Interferon activity was studied in a system of homologous REC and heterologous LG cells. Proteins of normal serum as well as induced serum emerged in two peaks separated by a deep saddle. Four hours after induction, the serum gave two peaks with similar interferon activity in both cell systems. After 8-hour induction, two interferons were also obtained, but activity in the heterologous system was much lower than in the homologous system. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel and on paper showed that interferon activity is connected mainly with the alpha1-globulin fraction.