Glucocorticoid and Estrogen Receptors Are Reduced in Mitochondria of Lung Epithelial Cells in Asthma

Mitochondrial glucocorticoid (mtGR) and estrogen (mtER) receptors participate in the coordination of the cell’s energy requirement and in the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation enzyme (OXPHOS) biosynthesis, affecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and induction of apoptosis. Although activation of mtGR and mtER is known to trigger anti-inflammatory signals, little information exists on the presence of these receptors in lung tissue and their role in respiratory physiology and disease. Using a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation disease and applying confocal microscopy, subcellular fractionation, and Western blot analysis we showed mitochondrial localization of GRα and ERβ in lung tissue. Allergic airway inflammation caused reduction in mtGRα, mtERβ, and OXPHOS enzyme biosynthesis in lung cells mitochondria and particularly in bronchial epithelial cells mitochondria, which was accompanied by decrease in lung mitochondrial mass and induction of apoptosis. Confirmation and validation of the reduction of the mitochondrial receptors in lung epithelial cells in human asthma was achieved by analyzing autopsies from fatal asthma cases. The presence of the mitochondrial GRα and ERβ in lung tissue cells and especially their reduction in bronchial epithelial cells during allergic airway inflammation suggests a crucial role of these receptors in the regulation of mitochondrial function in asthma, implicating their involvement in the pathophysiology of the disease

Rat model of metastatic breast cancer monitored by MRI at 3 tesla and bioluminescence imaging with histological correlation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Establishing a large rodent model of brain metastasis that can be monitored using clinically relevant magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques is challenging. Non-invasive imaging of brain metastasis in mice usually requires high field strength MR units and long imaging acquisition times. Using the brain seeking MDA-MB-231BR transfected with luciferase gene, a metastatic breast cancer brain tumor model was investigated in the nude rat. Serial MRI and bioluminescence imaging (BLI) was performed and findings were correlated with histology. Results demonstrated the utility of multimodality imaging in identifying unexpected sights of metastasis and monitoring the progression of disease in the nude rat.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Brain seeking breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231BR transfected with firefly luciferase (231BRL) were labeled with ferumoxides-protamine sulfate (FEPro) and 1-3 × 10⁶cells were intracardiac (IC) injected. MRI and BLI were performed up to 4 weeks to monitor the early breast cancer cell infiltration into the brain and formation of metastases. Rats were euthanized at different time points and the imaging findings were correlated with histological analysis to validate the presence of metastases in tissues.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Early metastasis of the FEPro labeled 231BRL were demonstrated onT2*-weighted MRI and BLI within 1 week post IC injection of cells. Micro-metastatic tumors were detected in the brain on T2-weighted MRI as early as 2 weeks post-injection in greater than 85% of rats. Unexpected skeletal metastases from the 231BRL cells were demonstrated and validated by multimodal imaging. Brain metastases were clearly visible on T2 weighted MRI by 3-4 weeks post infusion of 231BRL cells, however BLI did not demonstrate photon flux activity originating from the brain in all animals due to scattering of the photons from tumors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A model of metastatic breast cancer in the nude rat was successfully developed and evaluated using multimodal imaging including MRI and BLI providing the ability to study the temporal and spatial distribution of metastases in the brain and skeleton.</p

Effect of transverse and longitudinal magnetic field on the excess conductivity of YBa2Cu3_zAlz07_g single crystals with a given topology of plane defects

PublishedJournal ArticleThe effect of a constant magnetic field to 12.7 kOe on the temperature dependences of electric conductivity of aluminum-doped YBaCuO single crystals with a system of unidirectional twinning boundaries has been investigated. It is determined that the twinning boundaries are effective centers of scattering of fluctuation carriers. Directly near Tc the temperature dependences of the excess paraconductivity are satisfactorily described by the Hikami-Larkin theoretical model of fluctuation conductivity for layered superconducting systems. The reasons for the suppression of three-dimensional superconducting fluctuations and the nonmonotonic dependence of ξc(0,H) in weak magnetic fields with the magnetic field vector oriented along c axis were discussed. It was shown that the lack of fan-shaped expansion of the resistive transitions in the magnetic field in these samples is conditioned by the lack of the no pinning vortex liquid phase due to increased pinning of the vortex lattice at the twin boundaries. © 2013 - STC "Institute for Single Crystals".This work was funded in part by the European Commission CORDIS Seven Framework Program, Project No. 24755

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a follicular-cell neoplasm that shows limited evidence of follicular cell differentiation, and occupies both morphologically and behaviorally, an intermediate position between differentiated (follicular and papillary carcinomas) and anaplastic carcinoma. The diagnostic histopathologic criteria of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) have been listed in the Turin consensus proposa

Papillary thyroid carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is a malignant epithelial tumour showing evidence of follicular cell differentiation and a set of distinctive nuclear features. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is usually invasive. Papillae, invasion or cytological features of papillary thyroid carcinoma are required

Follicular thyroid carcinoma

Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is a thyroid malignancy arising from follicular cells in which the diagnostic nuclear features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are lacking. The lesions are usually encapsulated and show invasive growt