Detection of cell type and marker specificity of nuclear binding sites for anionic carbohydrate ligands.

The emerging functionality of glycosaminoglycan chains engenders interest in localizing specific binding sites using cytochemical tools. We investigated nuclear binding of labeled heparin, heparan sulfate, a sulfated fucan, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid in epidermal keratinocytes, bone marrow stromal cells, 3T3 fibroblasts and glioma cells using chemically prepared biotinylated probes. Binding of the markers was cell-type specific and influenced by extraction of histones, but was not markedly affected by degree of proliferation, differentiation or malignancy.

Insight into the pathogenesis of sporadic basal cell carcinoma.

Sporadic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the commonest human cancer. Although its aggressiveness is low and metastatic potential negligible, the increasing incidence of the tumor in the Western world drives attention to its pathogenesis. In 1996, germ-line mutations in the patched receptor of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway were described in the Gorlin-Goltz syndrome in association with multiple nevoid BCCs.

Biological properties of copolymer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with sulfopropyl methacrylate.

Interaction of organism with non-toxic implanted polymers depends on the physicochemical properties of the implant surface, which influence the adsorption of bioactive proteins and subsequently adhesion and growth of cells. The synthetic hydrogels are known as poorly adhesive surfaces. In this study we demonstrated the adsorption of albumin, fibrinogen, fibronectin, basic fibroblast growth factor, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and epidermal growth factor to poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) and copolymer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and potassium salt of 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate (SPMAK).

Agminated histiocytomas in a 23-year-old patient.

A 23-year-old patient presented with a group of 17 reddish-brown papules and nodules on the left shoulder lasting for 4 years. The histopathologic examination after a punch biopsy was repetitively consistent with the diagnosis of fibrous histiocytoma (FH). We use the term agminate histiocytomas for the first time to stress the presence of grouped lesions in one skin segment.

New aspects of galectin functionality in nuclei of cultured bone marrow stromal and epidermal cells: biotinylated galectins as tool to detect specific binding sites.

Nuclear presence of galectins suggests a role of these endogenous lectins in the regulation of transcription, pre-mRNA splicing and transport processes. Therefore, detection and localization of nuclear binding sites for galectins by a new methodological step, has potential to further functional analysis. In the first step of our model study we monitored the nuclear expression of galectins-1 and -3 in cultured stromal cells of human bone marrow and human/porcine keratinocytes.