Blockade of Macrophage CD147 Protects Against Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis.

The persistence of macrophage-derived foam cells in the artery wall fuels atherosclerosis development. However, the mechanism of foam cell formation regulation remains elusive. We are committed to determining the role that CD147 might play in macrophage foam cell formation during atherosclerosis.

Ribosomal S6 protein kinase 4 promotes radioresistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive cancers and is highly resistant to current treatments. ESCC harbors a subpopulation of cells exhibiting cancer stem-like cell (CSC) properties that contribute to therapeutic resistance including radioresistance, but the molecular mechanisms in ESCC CSCs are currently unknown. Here, we report that ribosomal S6 protein kinase 4 (RSK4) plays a pivotal role in promoting CSC properties and radioresistance in ESCC.

Activation of the NF-κB Pathway and Heterozygous Deletion of TNFAIP3 (A20) Confer Superior Survival in Extranodal Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type.

Objectives: To investigate the role of TNFAIP3 deletions and NF-κB activation in extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL), nasal type.

Methods: In total, 138 patients with ENKTCL were included. Activation of NF-κB pathway and expression of TNFAIP3 (A20) were examined by immunohistochemistry.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor of the submandibular gland--a rare but distinctive primary salivary gland neoplasm.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a highly aggressive neoplasm that generally involves the peritoneum and pelvis of young patients. Only rare cases occur outside the abdomen. We report a case presenting as a primary submandibular gland tumor in a 24-year-old man.

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma: first report of primary pulmonary origin.

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is an uncommon soft tissue tumor most frequently affecting the deep dermis and subcutis of the extremities in children and young adults. We report the first case presenting as a primary pulmonary tumor in a 46-year-old man. Histologically, the tumor was composed of multiple cellular nodules surrounded by a fibrous pseudocapsule and peritumoral lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates.

Epigenetic and genetic alterations of PTEN in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the roles of epigenetic and genetic alterations of the phosphatase and tensin homologue on chromosome 10 gene (PTEN) in carcinogenesis and the development of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).

Methods: A total of 56 cases of HCC tissues and six liver cell lines were studied for the expression of PTEN by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The PTEN gene mutations in exon5 and exon8 were detected by a combination of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing.

[Mutations of tumor suppressor gene PTEN mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma and its implications in tumor proliferation and apoptosis].

Objective: To study mutations of tumor suppressor gene PTEN in human hepatocellular carcinomas and its effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HHCC.

Methods: (1) PCR-SSCP and sequence analysis were used to detect the mutations of the 5th and 8th exon of PTEN in 42 cases of human primary hepatocellular carcinoma. (2) Eukaryotic expression vectors of the wild-type (pEGFP-wt-PTEN) and the mutant type (pEGFP-PTEN, G129R) of PTEN were constructed.

[Inhibitory effect of tumor suppressor gene PTEN on hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HHCC proliferation and its mechanisms of action].

Objective: To study the effect of tumor suppressor gene PTEN on proliferation and cell cycle of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HHCC.

Methods: Firstly, eukaryotic expression vectors of wild type and mutated type of PTEN gene were constructed, named as pEGFP-WT-PTEN and pEGFP-PTEN; G129R, respectively. Lipofectamine 2000 was used to transfect the constructed expression vectors into hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HHCC which was PTEN protein negative.

Expression and significance of a new tumor suppression gene PTEN in primary renal cell carcinoma.

Background & Objective: PTEN gene is a newly discovered tumor suppressor gene, that maps to chromosome 10q23, and of longstanding interest to those studying somatic mutations in human tumors. Mutation and deletion of PTEN gene probably resulted in a new signal transduction pathway related to human malignant tumors. It was reported that PTEN gene mutated and deleted in renal cell carcinoma, however, there was no report concerning its expression in renal cell carcinoma.