Background: Basaloid epidermal proliferations (BEP), morphologically resembling basal cell carcinoma (BCC), have been described overlying dermatofibromas. Distinguishing the two is important because of non-aggressiveness of BEP and local aggressiveness of BCC. The aim of this study is to determine whether CK20 antibody staining for Merkel cells can be used as an adjunct method to differentiate BEP from BCC.
Methods: Ten cases of BEP overlying dermatofibromas were selected. Ten cases of BCC were used as control. The two groups were stained with CK20 antibody. Numerical density of CK20 stained Merkel cells in peri-lesional epidermis, BEP and BCC was determined by examining 300 cells at 400X in two separate areas by three independent pathologists. To determine statistical significance, the results were compared using t-test method.
Results: Density of Merkel cells in peri-lesional epidermis was 0.2-0.3%. No merkel cells were detected in the BCC. BEP overlying dermatofibromas showed an obvious increase in CK 20 stained Merkel cells. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.02) CONCLUSIONS: We report a significant increase in CK20 stained Merkel cells in BEP overlying dermatofibromas as compared to BCC. CK20 antibody staining for Merkel cells can be used as an adjunct method to differentiate BEP overlying dermatofibromas from BCC. Mahmoodi M, Asad H, Salim S, Kantor G, Minimo C. Anti-CK20 staining of Merkel cells helps differentiate basaloid proliferations overlying dermatofibromas from basal cell carcinoma.
Polymeric carriers have long been recognized as some of the most effective and promising systems for nucleic acid delivery. In this study, we utilized an anionic di-block co-polymer, PEG-PLE, to enhance the performance of lipid-modified PEI (C14-PEI) nanoplexes for delivering Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA targeting KRAS G12S mutations in lung cancer cells. Our results demonstrated that PEG-PLE, when combined with C14-PEI at a weight-to-weight ratio of 0.
Merkel cells are perceived as tactile receptors within skin and oral mucosa containing abundant intermediate filaments but lacking characteristic condensation of tonofilaments, hence are also referred to as non-keratinocytes. Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs) are primary aggressive neuroendocrine neoplasms occurring in elderly individuals. Toker in 1972 reported MCC of skin pointing towards sweat glands as the source of origin which was later rectified by Tang with the aid of ultrastructural studies as Merkel cells to be a lineage of such tumours.
Lab of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo 90123, Italy.
Here, a pulmonary formulation based on lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles carrying small interfering RNA (siRNA) was developed to realize a RNA interference-based therapy to treat respiratory diseases. Toward this aim, a new copolymer was synthesized, by functionalization of the α,β-poly(-2-hydroxyethyl)-d,l-aspartamide with 35 mol % of 1,2-bis(3-aminopropylamino)ethane, 0.4 mol % of fluorescent dye, and 4.
Cationic polymers are known to efficiently deliver nucleic acids to target cells by encapsulating the cargo into nanoparticles. However, the molecular organization of these nanoparticles is often not fully explored. Yet, this information is crucial to understand complex particle systems and the role influencing factors play at later stages of drug development.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Inflammation, Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA. Electronic address:
- The JC virus (JCV) encodes multiple regulatory proteins, including large T antigen (LT-Ag) and small t antigen (Sm t-Ag), through alternative splicing of its pre-mRNA, with LT-Ag known for its role in cell transformation.
- The study found that Sm t-Ag aids cell cycle progression by facilitating the transition from G0/G1 to S phase, which involves early expression of important cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (like cyclin B and Cdk2).
- Sm t-Ag is shown to enhance growth-promoting pathways such as the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis, leading to increased levels of active proteins like phosphorylated-Akt, suggesting
