Three-dimensional analysis of ductular reactions and their correlation with liver regeneration and fibrosis.

The liver has multiple regeneration modes, including hepatocellular hypertrophy and self-renewal of hepatocytes. When hepatocyte proliferation is impaired, hepatic progenitor cells may proliferate through ductular reaction (DR), differentiate into hepatocytes, and contribute to fibrosis. However, the three-dimensional spatial relationship between DR and regenerating hepatocytes and dynamic changes in DR associated with fibrosis remain poorly understood.

Glycoepitopes of staphylococcal wall teichoic acid govern complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis via human serum antibody and mannose-binding lectin.

Serum antibodies and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are important host defense factors for host adaptive and innate immunity, respectively. Antibodies and MBL also initiate the classical and lectin complement pathways, respectively, leading to opsonophagocytosis. We have shown previously that Staphylococcus aureus wall teichoic acid (WTA), a cell wall glycopolymer consisting of ribitol phosphate substituted with α- or β-O-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and d-alanine, is recognized by MBL and serum anti-WTA IgG.

Human SAP is a novel peptidoglycan recognition protein that induces complement-independent phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus.

The human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for many community-acquired and hospital-associated infections and is associated with high mortality. Concern over the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains has renewed interest in the elucidation of host mechanisms that defend against S. aureus infection.

Intradermal immunization with wall teichoic acid (WTA) elicits and augments an anti-WTA IgG response that protects mice from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection independent of mannose-binding lectin status.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the immune response to intradermal immunization with wall teichoic acid (WTA) and the effect of MBL deficiency in a murine model of infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). WTA is a bacterial cell wall component that is implicated in invasive infection. We tested susceptibility to MRSA infection in wild type (WT) and MBL deficient mice using two strains of MRSA: MW2, a community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA); and COL, a healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA).

Expression of placenta growth factor in colorectal carcinomas.

Purpose: Placenta growth factor (PlGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. PlGF is implicated in several pathologic processes, including the growth and spread of cancer and tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and the clinical implications of PlGF in colorectal cancer.

Specific serum Ig recognizing staphylococcal wall teichoic acid induces complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis against Staphylococcus aureus.

Wall teichoic acid (WTA) of Staphylococcus aureus is a major cell envelope-associated glycopolymer that is a key molecule in promoting colonization during S. aureus infection. The complement system plays a key role in the opsonization and clearance of pathogens.

Stromal-cell-derived Factor 1-α Promotes Tumor Progression in Colorectal Cancer.

Purpose: Although stromal-cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α is suggested to be involved in tumorigenicity and tumor angiogenesis, the clinicopathological significance of its expression in colorectal cancers is not fully understood. We examined SDF-1α expression in colorectal cancers and investigated its relationship to clinicopathological features such as tumor staging, lymph-node metastasis, vascular invasion (VI), lymphatic invasion (LI) and neural invasion (NI).

Methods: Specimens of 83 primary colorectal cancers were examined immunohistochemically, and the relationships between clinicopathological features and SDF-1α expression were analyzed.

Correlation between Liver Metastases and the Level of PRL-3 mRNA Expression in Patients with Primary Colorectal Cancer.

Purpose: Phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) has been associated with metastasis promotion. However, clinical applications of this association have not yet been clearly demonstrated. In this study, we evaluated the relation of PRL-3 mRNA level in primary colorectal cancer to the corresponding stage and to other clinicopathologic factors.

Human serum mannose-binding lectin senses wall teichoic acid Glycopolymer of Staphylococcus aureus, which is restricted in infancy.

Innate immunity is the first line of host defense against invading pathogens, and it is recognized by a variety of pattern recognition molecules, including mannose-binding lectin (MBL). MBL binds to mannose and N-acetylglucosamine residues present on the glycopolymers of microorganisms. Human serum MBL functions as an opsonin and activates the lectin complement pathway.