Upregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor 4 in oral leukoplakia.

In the present study, we investigate the expression profile of the epidermal growth factor receptor family, which comprises EGFR/ErbB1, HER2/ErbB2, HER3/ErbB3 and HER4/ErbB4 in oral leukoplakia (LP). The expression of four epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family genes and their ligands were measured in LP tissues from 14 patients and compared with levels in 10 patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and normal oral mucosa (NOM) from 14 healthy donors by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Synchronous mRNA coexpression of ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3 and ErbB4 was detected in LP lesions.

Up-regulation of EGF receptor and its ligands, AREG, EREG, and HB-EGF in oral lichen planus.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the roles of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members and their ligands in oral lichen planus (OLP).

Study Design: The expressions of 4 EGFR-like receptors and 6 EGF-like ligands were measured in OLP tissues from 10 patients and compared with the levels in normal oral mucosa (NOM) from 10 healthy donors.

Results: Of the receptors, only EGFR mRNA and protein were more highly expressed in OLP compared with NOM tissues.

Evidence for the changes of antitumor immune response during lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the differences in antitumor immune responses between primary tumors and metastatic regional lymph nodes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Study Design: The clonality of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in tissue specimens from 17 HNSCC patients was examined regarding their T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires and their complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) size spectratyping. Cytokine expression profiles and T-cell phenotypes also were measured by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in the synovial fluid correlated with the severity of arthroscopically observed synovitis and clinical outcome after temporomandibular joint irrigation in patients with chronic closed lock.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) synovial fluid (SF) and the severity of arthroscopically observed synovitis before and after visually guided TMJ irrigation (VGIR) in patients with chronic closed lock (CCL). In addition, the findings were correlated with the clinical outcome.

Study Design: Twenty-four patients with unilateral CCL, who underwent a second VGIR either as a repeated therapeutic TMJ irrigation or as a follow-up arthroscopy, were enrolled in the study.

Inhibition of Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase substrate-1 reduces the severity of collagen-induced arthritis.

Objective: To investigate whether the blockade of Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase substrate-1 (SHPS-1) has any therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: A functional blocking monoclonal antibody for SHPS-1 (anti-SHPS-1 mAb) was administered at various doses to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice, and severity of the arthritis was evaluated by clinical and histological scores of the limbs. To clarify the mechanisms of action of the antibody, the serum concentration of anti-type II collagen antibody was measured in those mice, and in vitro experiments were conducted to determine the effects of the antibody on the induction of osteoclasts and the release of cytokines from mouse spleen cells.

Severity of arthroscopically observed pathology and levels of inflammatory cytokines in the synovial fluid before and after visually guided temporomandibular joint irrigation correlated with the clinical outcome in patients with chronic closed lock.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the severity of arthroscopically observed pathologies and the levels of a set of inflammatory cytokines in aspirated synovial fluid (A-SF) in patients with chronic closed lock (CCL) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) before and after visually guided TMJ irrigation (VGIR). Furthermore, the findings were correlated with the clinical outcome after VGIR.

Study Design: VGIR was performed in 56 consecutive patients with unilateral CCL.