EXPRESSION OF METIOLLOPROTEINASES ( MMP2-MMP9 ) AND CYCLOOXIGENASES ( COX1-COX2 ) IN SALIVARY GLAND TUMORS

Background Salivary neoplasms of the major salivary glands are uncommon: the annual incidence rates in the world vary between greater than 0.05 and less than 2 per 100,000. Most salivary gland tumours are benign and they represent an histological heterogeneous group with the greatest diversity of morphological and cellular features, in fact, these tumours are characterized by an extremely varied histomorphological phenotype due to combinations of different epitheliomorphic and mesenchymomorphic features. The histogenesis is uncertain but the bicellular theory of origin has been accepted and states that malignant transformation of reserve cell from either the intercalated or excretory duct are responsible for the development of malignant salivary glands. The most common benign tumour is pleomorphic adenoma while the most common malignant tumour is the cystic adenoid carcinomas, a slow-growing tumour with a tendency for peri-neural invasion and haematogenous metastasis The role of some enzymes in carcinogenesis has been recognized, in particular matrix metalloproteinases enzymes and cyclooxygenases are involved in different steps of progression of carcinoma in the process of carcinogenesis. Our group is studying the expression of metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9) and cyclooxygenases (COX-1, COX-2) in tumours of salivary gland through immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR to identify eventual progression from benign phenotype towards malignant phenotype. Materials and Methods. In this paper we investigate fourteen (14) samples of salivary gland tumours. We highlighted the localization of MMP-2, MMP-9 and COX-1, COX-2 through immunohistochemistry and gene expression through RT-PCR analysis. Results. We detected the presence of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and COX-1, COX-2 in all samples examined, in particular in the ductal epithelium. Conclusions. Actually, we did not found a different expression of two classes of enzymes in tumours of salivary glands examined with reference to different phenotype. We shall continue our work because we believe that with a major numbers of cases it is possible to identify a linear progression from benign to malignant phenotype

ANP (Atrial Natriuretic Peptide) presence in the heart of a tunicate, Ciona intestinalis.

Atrial natriuretic peptide was found in the heart of vertebrates, we studied the ANP presence in the heart of Ciona intestinalis. This is animal is very important because of the its evolutionary position between invertebrates and vertebrates. ANP presence was only revealed in myoepithelial cells of the myocardium. Results suggest the hypothesis that ANP is present not only in the vertebrates but also in the invertebrates and in Ciona heart ANP might play a similar role like in the heart of vertebrates

Atrial natriuretic peptide presence in parotid gland of human foetus at 13th week of development and in adult man

Our immunohistochemical study shows that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is present in both human fetal and adult parotid gland. In the fetuses ANP is localized in cell clusters, while in adult parotid gland, the ANP is seen only in the wall of intra- and extralobular ducts. The results suggest that ANP might play a role in the differentiation of the parotid gland similarly as in brain and that during fetal growth ANP may play a role in the regulating the secretion of primitive salivary fluid, even if acini are still not developed. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2013, Vol. 51, No. 1, 55-58

Presence of oxytocin, vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide and their modification in rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus during resistance training.

Many studies have demonstrated the physiological effects of oxytocin (OT), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and vasopressin (VP) in the homoeostasis of body fluids during physical exercise. However, a little information is available about the related immunohistochemical changes in hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory system during and after the training. The aim of the present work was to study the immunohistochemical changes in OT, ANP and VP levels in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus during and after resistance exercise protocol. Three groups of Wistar rats were trained by a rung ladder protocol for 15, 30 and 45 days, respectively; a fourth group was left to rest for 15 days after the training. Finally, four sedentary groups were used as controls. The results show that resistance training induces a significant reduction in the percentage of OT-positive neurons, compared with sedentary controls. In contrast, this protocol did not induce any change in VP levels, and ANP levels did not change significantly. However, VP increased after the resting period of 15 days. Our work shows that neurons of the paraventricular nucleus are involved in body fluid homoeostasis during and after resistance exercise. The functional significance of these changes in OT and VP levels, during and after the protocol, needs to be further investigated

Expression of gelatinases (MMP-2, MMP-9) and cyclooxygenases (COX-1, COX-2) in some benign salivary gland tumors.

Salivary gland tumors, most of which are rare benign tumors, represent a histologically heterogenous group with the greatest diversity of morphological and cellular features. The aim of this study is to analyse the expression and possible interactions between gelatinases (MMP-2, MMP-9) and cyclooxygenases (COX-1, COX-2) in some benign salivary gland tumors. We investigated the expression of gelatinases and cyclooxigenases in control salivary gland, Pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin's tumor through immunohistochemistry and Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). We identified the expression of both classes of enzyme in normal samples and in the two types of pathological samples without any quantitative differences. From the present data no significant differences emerge in the expression of these enzymes among the different pathologies examined. Nevertheless, due to the small number of samples included in this study, general statements regarding correlation between the degree of severity of the tumoral pathology and the quantitative expression of these potential tumoral markers can not be made

OXYTOCIN AND VASOPRESSIN EXPRESSION IN THE TURBINATES OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC SINUSITIS

Many peptides are present in the nasal mucosa, but few studies have investigated the presence or absence of the oxytocin and vasopressin peptides. This immunohistochemical study on the inferior turbinates of patients affected by chronic sinusitis shows, for the first time, that these peptides are present in the epithelium of both nasal mucosa and glands. Their presence could be related to the presence of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), like previously demonstrated in other organs such as heart and prostate, since in some circumstances they play in antagonism

Expression of Gelatinases (MMP-2, MMP-9) in human articular cartilage

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disorder characterized by destruction of the articular cartilage, subchondral bone alterations and synovitis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are expressed in joint tissues of patients with osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to define the steady state levels of two different MMPs to provide more insight into the role of MMPs in cartilage destruction in OA. We investigated the expression of gelatinases through immunihistochemistry. Our results show that high levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 are present in OA and suggest that once these MMPs are fully activated they may contribute to the cartilage destruction in OA

ANP (Atrial Natriuretic Peptide) presence in the heart of a tunicate, Ciona intestinalis.

Atrial natriuretic peptide was found in the heart of vertebrates, we studied the ANP presence in the heart of Ciona intestinalis. This is animal is very important because of the its evolutionary position between invertebrates and vertebrates. ANP presence was only revealed in myoepithelial cells of the myocardium. Results suggest the hypothesis that ANP is present not only in the vertebrates but also in the invertebrates and in Ciona heart ANP might play a similar role like in the heart of vertebrates