The Potential Role of MT and Vimentin Immunoreactivity in the Remodeling of the Microenvironment of Parotid Adenocarcinoma

A tumor stimulates the remodeling of its microenvironment in order to control and accelerate its own growth and to initiate metastases. To create metastases the tumor cells must first acquire the ability to detach from the main tumor and to adhere to, invade, and degrade the adjacent extracellular matrix. The cells must then be able to enter the lumen of the vessels where they home the distant tissues and organs by forming secondary tumors. The acquisition of this phenotype is related to the phenomenon of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. On the molecular level, this process is typified by a change in the expression of epithelial markers and by the enhancement of the expression of mesenchymal markers like vimentin that are responsible for cell migration and invasion. Metallothioneins have been shown to help protect against apoptosis. The expression of MT by tumor cells plays an important and complex role not only because of its pro-proliferative, anti-apoptotic activity, but also because it inhibits the immune response. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunoreactivity of vimentin and MT in the salivary gland adenocarcinoma and its stroma in order to observe the phenomenon of stromal remodeling. The tissue samples of salivary gland adenocarcinomas and their stromas and the palatine tonsils which constituted the reference group were obtained during routine surgical procedures. The immunoreactivity of vimentin, metalothionein, CD56, CD57 antigens was evaluated by the immunohistochemistry method in 30 tissue samples of parotid adenocarcinoma. The patient’s consent was obtained in each case. A statistically significantly higher level of MT immunoreactivity was observed in the adenocarcinoma tissue slides than in either the stromal slides or the reference slides while no differences in MT immunoreactivity were detected when the stroma and reference tissue slides were compared. A statistically significantly higher vimentin immunoreactivity level was identified in the tumor microenvironment tissue slides than in the tumor tissue slides, and a statistically significantly higher level of vimentin immunoreactivity was identified in the tumor microenvironment slides than in the slides of the reference tissue, while no differences were identified between the adenocarcinoma tissue slides and the reference slides with respect to vimentin immunoreactivity. A statistically significantly higher number of CD56- and CD57-expressing cells were identified in the reference tissue slides than in either the adenocarcinoma or stromal slides. In conclusion, the stroma of salivary gland adenocarcinoma in this study has been characterized by remodeling. The remodeling is represented by the expression of both vimentin and MT and by a deficit of CD57- and CD58-expressing cell infiltration. This situation would seem to be the result of immune tolerance for the tumor developing within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, the presence of MT and vimentin immunoreactivity in the fibroblasts of the tumor stroma may constitute a marker of active tissue remodeling

RCAS1 and B7H4 antigens immunoreactivity in squamous cell carcinoma of palatine tonsils and cancer microenvironment

B7-H4 protein has been demonstrated to be over-expressed by various types of cancer cells. The levelof expression of B7-H4 in these cancers is related to the type of cancer, its stage, and the number ofTreg cells, and correlates with patient survival and might be a new therapeutic target. The major role ofRCAS1 expression is to inhibit activated immune cells, such as T and B lymphocytes and NK cells, andto induce their apoptosis. It has also been postulated that RCAS1 is involved in the remodelling of thetumour microenvironment. The aim of the present study has been to evaluate RCAS1- and B7-H4-antigen immunoreactivity in squamouscell carcinoma of the palatine tonsils and in the cancer microenvironment. For our study, we recruited30 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma originating from the palatine tonsils

IgG4-related disease in the head and neck region : report of two cases and review of the literature

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare immune-mediated condition characterized by extensive tissue fibrosis and infiltration by immunoglobulin G4 positive plasma cells in a single organ or systemic appearance. Two cases are presented including an unusual case of a 30-year-old man with IgG4-RD appearing simultaneously in the cervical lymph nodes, ethmoid, maxillary sinuses, and upper gingiva, with spontaneous loss of teeth. According to the literature, this is the first case with loss of teeth occurring in the course of the disease. The second case is a 46-year-old man suffering from IgG4-related chronic sclerosing sialadenitis of the right submandibular gland

The evaluation of metallothionein expression in nasal polyps with respect to immune cell presence and activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The expression of metallothionein (MT) is involved in acquiring resistance to immune-mediated apoptosis; it is also a negative regulator of the immune response. Nasal polyps are typified by a resistance to immune-mediated apoptosis as well as by excessive immune cell infiltration. RCAS1 (receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells) is a membrane protein capable of inducing the apoptosis of CTLs and NK cells. The aim of the present study has been to explore the expression of metallothionein with respect to immune cell presence and immune cell activity. In our study, we identified immune cells using CD4 and CD68 antigen expression and evaluated their activity using CD25 antigen expression. We then analyzed metallothionein, RCAS1, CD25, CD4, and CD68 in a sampling of 50 nasal polyps using the immunohistochemistry method. We were able to divide the nasal polyps into three main groups according to their predominant immune cell infiltration: eosinophilic nasal polyps (21 cases), lymphocytic nasal polyps (17 cases), and neutrophilic nasal polyps (12 cases).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, statistically significant differences between the MT expression in the epithelium and that in the stroma of the nasal polyps along with the accompanying alterations in activation markers on immune cells were found and the number of macrophages in both the eosinophilic and the lymphocytic nasal polyps was assessed. RCAS1-expressing macrophages were found only in the eosinophilic nasal polyps.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MT expression seems to favor the survival of nasal polyp epithelial cells in the adjacent area of increasingly cytotoxic immune activity. RCAS1-expressing macrophages seem to participate in creating the immune suppressive microenvironment and so help to sustain local inflammation.</p

Analysis of the intensity of immune cell infiltration and immunoreactivity of RCAS1 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the palatine tonsil and its microenvironment

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of Waldeyer’s ring constitutes a small percentage of cases of palatine tonsil malignancies and its precise etiology remains unknown. RCAS1 (receptor cancer-binding antigen expressed on SiSo cells) has been demonstrated to be associated with poor prognosis, the development of lymph node metastases and participation in tumor microenvironment remodeling. Our aim is to analyze the potential role of RCAS1 expression in the tumor and tumor microenvironment in the development of early-stage palatine tonsil B-cell lymphomas. We selected 20 patients and analyzed tissue samples from the lymphoma and tumor microenvironment of each patient and from a reference group of 20 patients with chronic tonsillitis. The presence of RCAS1 protein immunoreactivity was demonstrated in 65 % of the examined tissue samples of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and in 25 % of the analyzed stromata in which it was exhibited by CD68-positive cells identified as macrophages and dispersed throughout the stroma. RCAS1 immunoreactivity in the lymphoma tissue samples remained at a level comparable with that of the reference and was significantly higher in these samples than in those from the stroma. Chronic inflammation of the palatine tonsils thus results in intensive infiltration by various types of immune system cells and in excessive RCAS1 immunoreactivity, both of which confirm the important regulatory role of RCAS1 in the immune response in the mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue of Waldeyer’s ring. RCAS1 seems to be involved in creating tumor-induced inflammation in the tumor and its microenvironment

The tobacco epidemic – pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation

Introduction: One of the biggest public health threats in the world is tobacco epidemic. According to WHO in the world cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use. In the 2018 report of the World Health Organization (WHO), smoking was recognized as one of the main risk factors responsible for premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases. According to the Global Burden of Disease, estimates smoking causes almost 8 million deaths in 2019 worldwide. In Poland about one-quarter of adults smoke cigarettes. As a result, scientists are constantly looking for medications that could help people quit smoking. The aim of the study: &nbsp;The aim of our study is to present medication which are used for treating nicotine dependence nowadays. Moreover, we give attention to social and economic consequences of tobacco use. Materials and methods: The literature available on PubMed and Google Scholar was reviewed using the words: “smoking”, “smoking cessation”, “nicotine”, “nicotine replacement therapy”. Description of the state of knowledge: Exposure to tobacco smoke is a dominant factor in the incidence of many cancers as well as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Therefore, improving smoking cessation interventions is critical to reducing tobacco use and helping to minimize the burden of cancer and other diseases for example chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conclusions: Smoking cessation&nbsp; has a positive effect on health.&nbsp; Nicotine replacement therapy, Bupropion, Varenicline and Cytisine are used to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms in regular smokers who abstain from smoking

Endometriosis as very common cause of chronic pelvic pain – overview of actual knowledge

Introduction and purpose of the study: Endometriosis is a prevalent condition that affects women in their reproductive years. Diagnosing the condition and determining its manifestations can be complex and uncertain, as they vary among individuals. The symptoms of endometriosis have a detrimental impact on the overall quality of life for patients, leading to decreased well-being, limitations in physical activity, and impaired social functioning. The available treatments for endometriosis are determined based on the primary symptom (chronic pelvic pain or infertility) and are primarily focused on surgical interventions, hormonal therapies, and analgesic medications. These treatments often come with numerous side effects and rarely offer long-term relief. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge regarding endometrosis, including its pathophysiology, diagnostic methods, and the existing treatment options. &nbsp; Materials and methods: The analysis relied on examining materials obtained from both the "PubMed" database and books. The search was performed using the keywords: "endometrosis diagnosis", "endometrosis therapy", "dysmenorrhea", "combined oral contraceptive", "laparoscopy". &nbsp; Summary: Endometriosis poses a significant health concern due to its correlation with compromised daily functioning and infertility. Appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic management of endometriosis contributes to a significant improvement in the wellbeing of patients, including a reduction in pain and improved ability to function both physically and socially. Conservative treatment consists of hormonal therapy, which regulates the menstrual cycle, reduces the severity of pain symptoms and inhibits the development of endometrial foci outside the uterus. In situations of advanced endometriosis, pharmacological treatments may not be sufficient and surgical therapy is required