Squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) of the larynx, clinically usually defined as leukoplakia and chronic laryngitis, have remained the main controversial topic in laryngeal pathology for decades as regards classification, histological diagnosis and treatment. SILs are caused by smoking and alcohol abuse. There is also mounting evidence that gastroesophageal reflux is a potential aetiological factor. Human papillomavirus infection seems to play little if any role in laryngeal carcinogenesis. Histological classification of SILs is the central disputed aspect of these lesions. There are as yet no generally accepted criteria for histological grading of laryngeal SILs. Three currently used classifications of SILs are reviewed here: the dysplasia system, the Ljubljana classification and the binary system of squamous intraepithelial neoplasia. One of the most important issues of SILs is the risk of malignant transformation. Data in the literature are controversial because of inconsistent use of morphological criteria in different classifications. It is often difficult for clinicians toagree on the most appropriate therapeutic option for a particular grade of SIL that has been diagnosed. Transition from normal epithelium to SILs and squamous cell carcinoma is related to progressive accumulation of genetic changes leading to a clonal population of transformed epithelial cells. Despite extensive research into these genetic changes in laryngeal carcinogenesis, reliable genetic markers with diagnostic and prognostic value are still lacking.
COBISS.SI-ID: 25820121
MicroRNAs are small, noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by posttranscriptional regulation of target genes. miR-200 family and miR-205 have been shown experimentally to regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition. As epithelial-mesenchymal transition is the postulated pathogenetic mechanism in spindle cell carcinoma, we analyzed the expression of these microRNAs in spindle cell carcinoma of the head and neck in comparison to conventional squamous cell carcinoma of similar location and stage. We also analyzed the expression of classic and desmosomal cadherins, which are believed to be important targets during epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Forty-five cases of spindle cell carcinoma and 45 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction for microRNAs, and immunohistochemistry for classic cadherins (E- and N-cadherins)and desmosomal cadherins. We found a significant down-regulation of the miR-200 family and miR-205, loss of desmosomal cadherins, and an altered expression of classic cadherins in spindle cell carcinoma in comparison to squamous cell carcinoma. Down-regulation of the miR-200 family and miR-205 strongly supports the postulated role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in spindle cell carcinoma. These microRNAs act on transcription repressors that were also up-regulated in our cases of spindle cell carcinoma,both on mRNA and on protein levels. The result is not only an altered expression of classic cadherins in adherens junctions but also a complete loss of desmosomal cadherins.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28112089
Aims: To investigate the expression of microRNAs miR-21, miR-31, miR-203, miR-125a-5p and miR-125b and proteins phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) and p63 in verrucous carcinoma (VC) of the head and neck. Methods and results:Thirty cases of VC, 50 cases of conventional squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 30 samples of normal epithelium of the head and neck were included. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to analyse the expression of microRNAs and proteins, respectively. In comparison to normal epithelium, miR-21 was overexpressed in both VC and SCC and miR-31 was overexpressed in VC and in well- and moderately differentiated SCC. Levelsof miR-203 were elevated in VC but unaltered or reduced in SCC, and levels of miR-125a-5p and miR-125b were reduced in VC but unaltered in SCC. PTEN was down-regulated in both VC and SCC, whereas p63 was down-regulated in VC but up-regulated in SCC. Differential expression of p63 in VC correlated inversely with the expression of miR-21 and miR-203. Conclusions: Differences between VC, SCC and normal epithelium in expression profiles of investigated molecules indicate their association with the pathogenesis and clinicopathological characteristics of VC. Our results suggest that some microRNAs and proteins, particularly miR-125b, miR-203 and p63, might be useful in the diagnosis of VC.
COBISS.SI-ID: 30031833
Background: Cardiac sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum calcium ATPase-2 (SERCA2) plays one of the central roles in myocardial contractility. Both, SERCA2 mRNA and protein are reduced in myocardial infarction (MI), but the correlation has not been always observed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act by targeting 3'-UTR mRNA, causing translational repression in physiological and pathological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. One of the aims of our study was to identify miRNAs that could influence SERCA2 expression in human MI. Results:The protein SERCA2 was decreased and 43 miRNAs were deregulated in infarcted myocardium compared to corresponding remote myocardium, analyzed by western blot and microRNA microarrays, respectively. All the samples were stored as FFPE tissue and in RNAlater. miRNAs binding prediction to SERCA2 including four prediction algorithms (TargetScan, PicTar, miRanda and mirTarget2) identified 213 putative miRNAs. TAM and miRNApath annotation of deregulated miRNAs identified 18 functional and 21 diseased states related to heart diseases, and association of the half of the deregulated miRNAs to SERCA2. Free-energy of binding and flanking regions (RNA22, RNAfold) was calculated for 10 up-regulated miRNAs from microarray analysis (miR-122, miR-320a/b/c/d, miR-574-3p/-5p, miR-199a, miR-140, and miR-483), and nine miRNAs deregulated from microarray analysis were used for validation with qPCR (miR-21, miR-122, miR-126, miR-1, miR-133, miR-125a/b, and miR-98). Based on qPCR results, the comparison between FFPE and RNAlater stored tissue samples, between Sybr Green and TaqMan approaches, as well as between different reference genes were also performed. Conclusion: Combing all the results, we identified certain miRNAs as potential regulators of SERCA2; however, further functional studies are needed for verification. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)
COBISS.SI-ID: 30428889
Background: In Fabry nephropathy, alpha-galactosidase deficiency leads to accumulation of glycosphingolipids in all kidney cell types, proteinuria and progressive loss of kidney function. Methods: An international working group of nephrologists from 11 Fabry centres identified adult Fabry patients, and pathologists scored histologic changes on renal biopsies. A standardized scoring system was developed with a modified Delphi technique assessing 59 Fabry nephropathy cases. Each case was scored independently of clinical information by at least three pathologists with an average final score reported. Results: We assessed 35 males (mean age 36.4 years) and 24 females (43.9 years) who mostly had clinically mild Fabry nephropathy. The average serum creatinine was 1.3 mg/dl (114.9 micromol/l); estimated glomerular filtration rate was 81.7 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and urine protein to creatinine ratio was 1.08 g/g (122.0 mg/mmol). Males had greater podocyte vacuolization on light microscopy (mean score) and glycosphingolipid inclusions on semi-thinsections than females. Males also had significantly more proximal tubule, peritubular capillary and vascular intimal inclusions. Arteriolar hyalinosis was similar, but females had significantly more arterial hyalinosis. Chronic kidney disease stage correlated with arterial and glomerular sclerosis scores. Significant changes, including segmental and global sclerosis, and interstitial fibrosis were seen even in patients with stage 1-2 chronic kidney disease with minimal proteinuria. Conclusions: The development of a standardized scoring system of both disease-specific lesions, i.e. lipid deposition related, and general lesions of progression, i.e. fibrosis and sclerosis, showed a spectrum of histologic appearances even in early clinical stage of Fabry nephropathy. These findings support the role of kidney biopsy in the baseline evaluation of Fabry nephropathy, even with mild clinical disease. (Abstract truncat
COBISS.SI-ID: 27108825