Down regulation of E-Cadherin (ECAD) - a predictor for occult metastatic disease in sentinel node biopsy of early squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prognostic factors in predicting occult lymph node metastasis in patients with head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are necessary to improve the results of the sentinel lymph node procedure in this tumour type. The E-Cadherin glycoprotein is an intercellular adhesion molecule in epithelial cells, which plays an important role in establishing and maintaining intercellular connections.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>To determine the value of the molecular marker E-Cadherin in predicting regional metastatic disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>E-Cadherin expression in tumour tissue of 120 patients with HNSCC of the oral cavity and oropharynx were evaluated using the tissue microarray technique. 110 tumours were located in the oral cavity (91.7%; mostly tongue), 10 tumours in the oropharynx (8.3%). Intensity of E-Cadherin expression was quantified by the Intensity Reactivity Score (IRS). These results were correlated with the lymph node status of biopsied sentinel lymph nodes. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to determine statistical significance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>pT-stage, gender, tumour side and location did not correlate with lymph node metastasis. Differentiation grade (<it>p </it>= 0.018) and down regulation of E-Cadherin expression significantly correlate with positive lymph node status (<it>p </it>= 0.005) in univariate and multivariate analysis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that loss of E-cadherin expression is associated with increased lymhogeneous metastasis of HNSCC. E-cadherin immunohistochemistry may be used as a predictor for lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx.</p> <p><b>Level of evidence: 2b</b></p

Serotonin regulates amylase secretion and acinar cell damage during murine pancreatitis

ObjectiveSerotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a potent bioactive molecule involved in a variety of physiological processes. In this study, the authors analysed whether 5-HT regulates zymogen secretion in pancreatic acinar cells and the development of pancreatic inflammation, a potentially lethal disease whose pathophysiology is not completely understood.Methods5-HT regulation of zymogen secretion was analysed in pancreatic acini isolated from wild-type or tryptophan hydoxylase-1 knock-out (TPH1(-/-)) mice, which lack peripheral 5-HT, and in amylase-secreting pancreatic cell lines. Pancreatitis was induced by cerulein stimulation and biochemical and immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate disease progression over 2 weeks.ResultsAbsence and reduced intracellular levels of 5-HT inhibited the secretion of zymogen granules both ex vivo and in vitro and altered cytoskeleton dynamics. In addition, absence of 5-HT resulted in attenuated pro-inflammatory response after induction of pancreatitis. TPH1(-/-) mice showed limited zymogen release, reduced expression of the pro-inflammatory chemokine MCP-1 and minimal leucocyte infiltration compared with wild-type animals. Restoration of 5-HT levels in TPH1(-/-) mice recovered the blunted inflammatory processes observed during acute pancreatitis. However, cellular damage, inflammatory and fibrotic processes accelerated in TPH1(-/-) mice during disease progression.ConclusionsThese results identify a 5-HT-mediated regulation of zymogen secretion in pancreatic acinar cells. In addition, they demonstrate that 5-HT is required for the onset but not for the progression of pancreatic inflammation. These findings provide novel insights into the normal physiology of pancreatic acinar cells and into the pathophysiology of pancreatitis, with potential therapeutic implications

The glycerol backbone of phospholipids derives from noncarbohydrate precursors in starved lung cancer cells

10.1073/pnas.1719871115Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America115246225-623

The glycerol backbone of phospholipids derives from noncarbohydrate precursors in starved lung cancer cells

Cancer cells are reprogrammed to consume large amounts of glucose to support anabolic biosynthetic pathways. However, blood perfusion and consequently the supply with glucose are frequently inadequate in solid cancers. PEPCK-M (PCK2), the mitochondrial isoform of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), has been shown by us and others to be functionally expressed and to mediate gluconeogenesis, the reverse pathway of glycolysis, in different cancer cells. Serine and ribose synthesis have been identified as downstream pathways fed by PEPCK in cancer cells. Here, we report that PEPCK-M-dependent glycerol phosphate formation from noncarbohydrate precursors (glyceroneogenesis) occurs in starved lung cancer cells and supports de novo glycerophospholipid synthesis. Using stable isotope-labeled glutamine and lactate, we show that PEPCK-M generates phosphoenolpyruvate and 3-phosphoglycerate, which are at least partially converted to glycerol phosphate and incorporated into glycerophospholipids (GPL) under glucose and serum starvation. This pathway is required to maintain levels of GPL, especially phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), as shown by stable shRNA-mediated silencing of PEPCK-M in H23 lung cancer cells. PEPCK-M shRNA led to reduced colony formation after starvation, and the effect was partially reversed by the addition of dioleyl-PE. Furthermore, PEPCK-M silencing abrogated cancer growth in a lung cancer cell xenograft model. In conclusion, glycerol phosphate formation for de novo GPL synthesis via glyceroneogenesis is a newly characterized anabolic pathway in cancer cells mediated by PEPCK-M under conditions of severe nutrient deprivation

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease stratification by liver lipidomics.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common metabolic dysfunction leading to hepatic steatosis. However, NAFLD's global impact on the liver lipidome is poorly understood. Using high-resolution shotgun mass spectrometry, we quantified the molar abundance of 316 species from 22 major lipid classes in liver biopsies of 365 patients, including nonsteatotic patients with normal or excessive weight, patients diagnosed with NAFL (nonalcoholic fatty liver) or NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), and patients bearing common mutations of NAFLD-related protein factors. We confirmed the progressive accumulation of di- and triacylglycerols and cholesteryl esters in the liver of NAFL and NASH patients, while the bulk composition of glycerophospho- and sphingolipids remained unchanged. Further stratification by biclustering analysis identified sphingomyelin species comprising n24:2 fatty acid moieties as membrane lipid markers of NAFLD. Normalized relative abundance of sphingomyelins SM 43:3;2 and SM 43:1;2 containing n24:2 and n24:0 fatty acid moieties, respectively, showed opposite trends during NAFLD progression and distinguished NAFL and NASH lipidomes from the lipidome of nonsteatotic livers. Together with several glycerophospholipids containing a C22:6 fatty acid moiety, these lipids serve as markers of early and advanced stages of NAFL

High-resolution varve studies in Baldeggersee (Switzerland): Project overview and limnological background data

This introduction to a series of high-resolution varve studies in Baldeggersee provides both an overview of the different subprojects as well as background information on relevant limnologial trends. The project was based on a new method of in-situ freezing of unconsolidated surficial sediments in deep lakes. With this freeze-core technique a detailed, high-resolution stratigraphy of the varved sediments at the deepest point of Baldeggersee has been established for the period of 1885–1993. Annual and seasonal sediment samples were analyzed. Concentrations of redox active metals in sediments were calibrated as proxy indicators for the reconstruction of hypolimnetic oxygen conditions. Particle size analysis and varve measurements were used to discriminate between the influence of nutrients and climate on sediment formation and accumulation. Baldeggersee is an ideal system for calibrating indicators of deep-water oxygen concentrations because it underwent dramatic changes in nutrient loading and redox conditions during this century. The hypolimnion has been seasonally anoxic for the last 100 years and phosphorus content decreased by a factor of five in the last 20 years. Meromixis was observed between 1960 and 1980. Since 1983 the deep water has been artificially oxygenated. This well documented change in deep-water oxygen concentration represents a unique whole-lake experiment that can be used to analyze the geochemical response of the sediments