Local Immune Changes in Early Stages of Inflammation and Carcinogenesis Correlate with the Collagen Scaffold Changes of the Colon Mucosa.

Continuous activation of the immune system inside a tissue can lead to remodelling of the tissue structure and creation of a specific microenvironment, such as during the tumour development. Chronic inflammation is a central player in stimulating changes that alter the tissue stroma and can lead to fibrotic evolution. In the colon mucosa, regulatory mechanisms, including TGF-β1, avoid damaging inflammation in front of the continuous challenge by the intestinal microbiome.

New urinary metabolites formed from ring-oxidized metabolic intermediates of styrene.

The urine from mice exposed to styrene vapors (600 and 1200 mg/m(3), 6 h) was analyzed for ring-oxidized metabolites of styrene. To facilitate the identification of metabolites in urine, the following potential metabolites were prepared: 2-, 3-, and 4-vinylphenol (2-, 3-, and 4-VP), 4-vinylpyrocatechol, and 2-, 3-, and 4-vinylphenylmercapturic acid (2-, 3-, and 4-VPMA). For the analysis of vinylphenols beta-glucuronidase-treated urine was extracted and derivatized with acetanhydride/triethylamine before injection into GC/MS.