Short communication: RNASEL alleles and susceptibility to infection by human retroviruses and hepatitis viruses.

RNASEL seems to function as an intracellular restriction factor blocking the establishment of infections caused by viral agents. Herein, we investigated whether allelic variants at the RNASEL gene might influence the susceptibility to viral infections or conditions potentially linked to viral agents. The allelic distribution at codon 462 was 139 (33.

Relationship between IL-6/ERK and NF-κB: a study in normal and pathological human prostate gland.

Background: There is growing evidence that inflammation is a causal factor in cancer, where pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1 or TNF-α could induce cellular proliferation by activation of NF-κB. This study focuses on the IL-6/ERK transduction pathway, its relationship with NF-κB, and the consequences of dysregulation in the development of prostate pathologies such as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and prostate cancer (PC).

Methods: Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses for IL-6, gp-130, Raf-1, MEK-1, ERK-1, p-MEK, ERK-2, p-ERK, NF-κB/p-50 and NF-κB/p-65 were carried out in 20 samples of normal prostate glands, 35 samples of BPH, 27 samples with a diagnosis of PIN (low-grade PIN or high-grade PIN), and 95 samples of PC (23 with low, 51 with medium and 21 with high Gleason scores).

Role of IAPs in prostate cancer progression: immunohistochemical study in normal and pathological (benign hyperplastic, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer) human prostate.

Background: In this study was investigate IAPs in normal human prostate (NP), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and prostatic carcinoma (PC), and their involvement in apoptosis/proliferation via NF-kB (TNF-alpha, IL-1) stimulation.

Methods: Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses were performed in 10 samples of normal prostates, 35 samples of BPH, 27 samples diagnosis of PIN (with low-grade PIN or high-grade PIN) and 95 samples of PC (with low, medium or high Gleason grades).

Results: In NP, cytoplasm of epithelial cells were positive to c-IAP1/2 (80% of samples), c-IAP-2 (60%), ILP (20%), XIAP (20%); negative to NAIP and survivin.

TNF/IL-1/NIK/NF-kappa B transduction pathway: a comparative study in normal and pathological human prostate (benign hyperplasia and carcinoma).

Aims: Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha induces death or cell proliferation by activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, also activated by interleukin (IL)-1 alpha. The aim was to investigate upstream and downstream components of NIK transduction pathway in normal (NP), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and prostatic carcinoma (PC).

Methods And Results: Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed.

The p38 transduction pathway in prostatic neoplasia.

It has been proposed that, among other cellular responses, TNF-alpha induces not only cell death, but also cell proliferation by activation of p38. It has also been reported that IL-1-alpha favours cell proliferation by p38 activation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate upstream (alpha-PAK, MEK-6) and downstream (Elk-1 and ATF-2) components of the p38 transduction pathway in normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate carcinoma (PC).

Interleukin-1 (IL-1alpha and IL-1beta) and its receptors (IL-1RI, IL-1RII, and IL-1Ra) in prostate carcinoma.

Background: The principal components of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family are two secreted factors (IL-1alpha and IL-1beta), two transmembrane receptors (IL-1RI [biologically active] and IL-1RII [inert receptor]), and a natural antagonist receptor of IL-1 function (IL-1Ra). Changes in the expression pattern of these IL-1 members have been reported to be related to disease progression. The objective of the current study was to evaluate these changes in prostatic tissue by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.

Pro-apoptotic tumor necrosis factor-alpha transduction pathway in normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma.

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) exerts apoptosis throughout an intracellular transduction pathway that involves the protein kinases TRAF-2 (integration point of apoptotic and survival signals), signal regulating kinase (ASK-1) (pro-apoptotic protein), mitogen activated protein kinase-kinase 4 (MEK-4) (p38 activator and metastasis suppressor gene), Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) (stress mitogen activated protein kinase) and the transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1).

Materials And Methods: Biopsies from 20 normal, 35 hyperplastic and 27 carcinomatous human prostates were obtained for immunohistochemical and Western blot studies of the mentioned TNF-alpha/AP-1 transduction pathway members.

Results: In normal prostates immunoreactions to TRAF-2, ASK-1, MEK-4 and JNK were positive, while no immunoreaction to AP-1 was detected.

Regulation of proliferation/apoptosis equilibrium by mitogen-activated protein kinases in normal, hyperplastic, and carcinomatous human prostate.

This study investigate the expression of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostatic cancer (PC), and also the possible relationship between the activity of these MAPKs and the apoptosis/proliferation index. Immunochemical techniques were carried out using 2 mouse monoclonal antibodies against human extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and 1 goat polyclonal antibody against mouse p38. To compare the results obtained in the 3 specimens, the average percentages of both epithelial and stromal immunostained cells were calculated on immunostained sections.

Immunoexpressions of p21, Rb, mcl-1 and bad gene products in normal, hyperplastic and carcinomatous human prostates.

A comparative study of the expression of p21, Rb, mcl-1, and bad gene products, which are involved in the control of the cell cycle, was performed in normal, hyperplastic, and carcinomatous human prostates by means of a semiquantitative immunochemical study. This included Western blot, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry procedures. In normal prostates, immunoexpression of the four gene products was scanty or absent.

Estrogen receptors alpha and beta in the normal, hyperplastic and carcinomatous human prostate.

Two different estrogen receptors (ER-alpha and ER-beta) have been described, which are differentially involved in regulating the normal function of reproductive tissues. ER-alpha was considered for a long time to be the only estrogen receptor, and it has been detected in the stromal cells of the human prostate but not in the epithelium. To obtain new information about the differential effects of both receptor types, we have investigated their localization in normal prostates, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostatic cancer (PC) by immunohistochemistry, ELISA and Western blot.

IL-2, its receptors, and bcl-2 and bax genes in normal, hyperplastic and carcinomatous human prostates: immunohistochemical comparative analysis.

The presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and its receptors (Ralpha, Rbeta, Rgamma), and their relationship with the products of bcl-2 and bax genes was studied in normal prostates, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostatic cancer (PC) by ELISA, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. A comparative semiquantitative immunohistochemical study was also performed. For all the antibodies assayed, immunoreactions were found in the epithelium and some stromal cells in the three types of specimens studied.

Immunoexpression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and its receptors 1 and 2 correlates with proliferation/apoptosis equilibrium in normal, hyperplasic and carcinomatous human prostate.

Immunohistochemical and semiquantitative study of TNF-alpha, its receptors types 1 (TNFR1) and 2 (TNFR2), cell proliferation (Ki-67 nuclear antigen), and apoptosis (Tunel method) was carried out in human prostates, in normal healthy conditions, as well as in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic carcinoma (PC). Cell proliferation was higher in BPH than in normal prostates, and even higher in PC, mainly in neoformations showing a microglandular pattern. The apoptotic index was similar in BPH and normal prostates, and increased significantly in PC with independence of the pattern.

A lectin histochemistry comparative study in human normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostatic carcinoma.

The partial oligosaccharide sequences of glycoconjugates and the nature of their glycosidic linkages were investigated in normal human prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic carcinoma by means of lectin histochemistry, using light microscopy and Western blot analysis. The labeling pattern of BPH differed from that of normal prostate in having more intense staining with DSA, HPA, UEA-I and AAA, and in showing lesser staining with WGA and SBA. Prostatic carcinoma differed from normal prostates in displaying the more intense labeling with PNA, DSA, SBA, DBA, UEA-I and AAA, and in having lesser labeling with WGA.

Lectin histochemistry study in the human vas deferens.

The oligosaccharide sequences of glycoconjugates in the normal human vas deferens and the nature of the saccharide linkage were studied by lectin histochemistry. The cytoplasm of all epithelial cell types (principal cells, basal cells, and mitochondria-rich cells) and luminal contents reacted positively with WGA, MAA, PNA, DSA, LTA, UEA-I, AAA, and ConA. The reaction was more intense in the stereocilia of principal cells.

Lectin histochemistry of the human testis.

The oligosaccharide sequences of glycoconjugates and the nature of the saccharide linkage were investigated in normal human testes by means of lectin histochemistry studies, at light and electron microscopy levels. Reaction to WGA was intense in the seminiferous epithelium and interstitium. MAA showed light reactivity in all cell types of the human seminiferous epithelium, the lamina propria and Leydig cells.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 and its receptor types I and II. Comparison in human normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostatic carcinoma.

An immunohistochemical and semiquantitative comparative study of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and its receptor types I (TGF-beta RI) and II (TGF-beta RII) was carried out in normal prostates and in the prostates from men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and men with prostatic adenocarcinoma. Immunoreaction to TGF-beta 1 was limited to the basal epithelial cells in the normal prostates. Some cells in the connective tissue stroma were also stained.

Identification of N- and O-linked oligosaccharides in the human epididymis.

The oligosaccharide sequences of glycoconjugates in the human normal epididymis and the nature of linkages were studied with lectin histochemistry. The usual terminal sequences of oligosaccharide side chains in epithelial cell secretions were Neu5Ac2,3Galbeta1,3GalNAc; SO4Galbeta1,3GalNAc; and Galbeta1,4GlcNAc, and they were mainly found in O-linked glycoproteins. The lectin pattern of mitochondria-rich cells differed from that of principal cells.

Total and regional bone mass and biochemical markers of bone remodeling in metastatic prostate cancer.

Background: The osteolytic activity of metastases of prostate cancer was evaluated in relation to total body bone mineral content (TBBMC) and regional bone mineral content (RBMC).

Methods: Bone mass was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) was measured as a biochemical marker of bone resorption.

Intermediate filaments in the Sertoli cells of the ageing human testis.

The presence and distribution of intermediate filaments (vimentin, keratin, desmin) was studied in the Sertoli cells of elderly men by means of quantitative immunohistochemical methods. Sertoli cells from young men showed moderate immunogold labelling to vimentin throughout the entire cytoplasm between the cell organelles in tubules showing complete spermatogenesis. Immunogold particles were more numerous in the perinuclear cytoplasm and beneath the plasma membrane in all its faces.

Immunocytochemical and quantitative study of the tunica albuginea testis in young and ageing men.

A light and electron microscope immunohistochemical study of the tunica albuginea from both young and elderly men was carried out to determine the distribution of the cells that contain actin, vimentin and/or desmin, and to evaluate the possible variations with ageing by means of quantitative studies. Testicular volume and testicular parenchyma volume decreased significantly with age whereas the tunica albuginea volume remained unchanged. These results agree with the scanty quantitative changes observed in the testicular connective tissue with age, and the notion that age-related changes in testicular volume are principally restricted to the seminiferous tubules.

Immunocytochemical and quantitative study of actin, desmin and vimentin in the peritubular cells of the testes from elderly men.

A quantitative immunohistochemical study using light and electron microscopy was carried out to evaluate the morphological and quantitative distribution of the peritubular cells that immunoreact with actin, vimentin and desmin, alone or in combinations, in normal adult testes and the changes in these cells in elderly men. Seminiferous tubules in ageing testes were classified in three groups according to the degree of lamina propria thickening due to tubular sclerosis: group I, < 8 microns; group II, 8.1-12 microns; and group III, > 12.