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Biomedical subjects

K H Chang

Publications and source records attributed to K H Chang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

alpha-Synuclein promoter RsaI T-to-C polymorphism and the risk of Parkinson's disease.

Increased alpha-synuclein expression may be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated the association of Rep1 microsatellite and RsaI T-to-C substitution in the alpha-synuclein promoter region with the risk of PD by a case-control study. The RsaI C/C genotype and C allele were found less frequently in PD patients than in controls. A reduced risk of the Rep1-RsaI 0-C haplotype (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.36-0.90) with PD was evident. The quantitative real-time PCR study showed that the alpha-synuclein mRNA expression was increased (although not significantly) in PD patients with RsaI T/T genotype or Rep1-RsaI 0-T haplotype as compared to T/C genotype or 0-C haplotype. Reporter constructs containing the RsaI C allele drove significantly lower transcriptional activity compared with the RsaI T allele in both IMR32 and 293 cells. The findings suggest that the RsaI T-to-C substitution may have a functional relevance to the susceptibility to PD.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Apolipoprotein E, angiotensin-converting enzyme and kallikrein gene polymorphisms and the risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Lipoproteins and vascular factors may play roles in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and/or vascular dementia (VaD). In this study, odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for apolipoprotein E (APOE), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and kallikrein (KLK1) polymorphisms were computed to test their association with the disease by a case-control study. The risk of AD was significantly increased for individuals with APOE varepsilon4 allele (OR = 3.73, 95% CI = 2.38-5.98). The risk of AD was also significant for people with ACE DD genotype, D allele, or T-D haplotype [OR (95% CI) = 4.29 (1.96-10.23), 1.90 (1.35-2.70), or 2.91 (1.71-5.10), respectively]. The above association between ACE-VaD was also strong (p = 0.0012, 0.0050, 0.0007, respectively). Reporter constructs containing the -240 A or T allele displayed similar transcriptional activity in both HEK-293 and IMR-32 cells. Thus, another putative pathogenic marker that is linked with the Alu D allele might affect the risk of AD and VaD in Taiwan.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed2006

Sonographic findings of placental lacunae and the prediction of adherent placenta in women with placenta previa totalis and prior Cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of transvaginal sonographic findings of intraplacental lacunae for predicting adherent placenta and clinical outcome in patients with placenta previa totalis and a history of Cesarean section. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with placenta previa totalis diagnosed by transvaginal sonography and with a history of Cesarean section who delivered at our hospital were included in the study. The sonographic findings of intraplacental lacunae were classified into one of four grades. Pathological analysis of the placenta was performed for all patients who delivered, and in cases of hysterectomy, examination of the uterus was also performed. The placental findings and obstetric complications, including massive transfusion, intensive care unit admission and Cesarean hysterectomy, were compared with the grade of lacuna. RESULTS: Lacunae were classified as Grade 1+ in 10 cases, Grade 2+ in 11 cases, Grade 3+ in five cases and as Grade 0 (i.e. lacunae were absent) in the remaining 25 cases. When lacunae of > or = Grade 1+ were considered, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of diagnosing adherent placenta were 86.9%, 78.6%, 76.9% and 88.0%, respectively. When lacunae of > or = Grade 2+ were considered, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of diagnosing placenta increta or percreta were 100%, 97.2%, 93.8% and 100%, respectively. Hysterectomy was performed in 18 cases, among whom two cases showed Grade 1+ lacunae, 11 cases showed Grade 2+ lacunae, and five cases showed Grade 3+ lacunae. No hysterectomy was performed in any case in which lacunae were absent. Compared to those without lacunae, the number of massive transfusions and intensive care unit admissions and cases of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and Cesarean hysterectomy were significantly greater in those with lacunae (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Transvaginal sonographic findings of intraplacental lacunae in patients with placenta previa totalis and a history of Cesarean section are useful in the prediction of adherent placenta and may have a role in the prediction of clinical outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study.

This study reviewed the clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Taiwanese patients from 1993 to 2001. Of the 75 MS patients with a mean age of onset of 35.6 +/- 12.6 years, the female-to-male ratio was 4.4 (61/14). In 42 (56%) optico-spinal MS (OS-MS) patients, the age of onset (37.6 +/- 11.1 years) tended to be older than conventional MS (C-MS) patients (33.1 +/- 14.1 years, P = 0.08). In 60 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens, raised IgG index (>0.7) and oligoclonal bands were noted in 26 (43.3%) and two (3.3%) cases, respectively. The frequency of raised IgG index was lower in OS-MS (31.3%) than in C-MS (57.1%, P = 0.07). The CSF total protein concentrations were significantly higher in OS-MS (64.5 mg/dL) than in C-MS (46.6 mg/dL, P = 0.047). The mean annual relapse rate was 54.1%, and was significantly higher within the first year (59.7%, P < 0.001). The mean annual relapse rate in OS-MS (62.7%) was significantly higher than in C-MS (41.2%, P=0.01). The differences in the annual relapse rate and total protein concentration in CSF between OS-MS and C-MS suggest probably two distinct immunopathogenesis. The higher first year relapse rate of MS patients in Taiwan may address the importance of early intervention with immunomodulatory therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma arising from the internal auditory canal.

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular tumor and locally aggressive endothelial-derived spindle cell neoplasm, which occurs almost exclusively in infants and adolescents. Radiologically, hemangioendothelioma, including Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, is seen as a highly vascularized well-enhancing tumor, but no characteristic findings differentiate Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma from other soft-tissue tumors, particularly when the tumor is too small to have any locally aggressive features or identifiable large vessels. We present a case of Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma in the internal auditory canal that had no differential features on initial MR images and rapidly grew into a huge mass in a few months.

Ear Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

Effect of seizure on hippocampus in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and neocortical epilepsy: an MRS study.

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of seizures on the bilateral hippocampus in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) and neocortical epilepsy by single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Forty-one patients with mTLE having unilateral hippocampal sclerosis and 43 patients with a neocortical epilepsy who underwent subsequent epilepsy surgery were recruited. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals of N-acetyl aspartate/choline (NAA/Cho) and NAA/creatine (NAA/Cr) ratios in 20 healthy control subjects were used as threshold values to determine abnormal NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr. NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr were significantly lower in the ipsilateral hippocampus of mTLE and neocortical epilepsy. Using asymmetry indices for patients with bilaterally abnormal ratios of NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr in addition to using unilateral abnormal ratio, the seizure focus was correctly lateralized in 65.9% of patients with mTLE and 48.8% of neocortical epilepsy patients. Bilateral NAA/Cho abnormality was significantly related to a poor surgical outcome in mTLE. No significant relationship was found between the results of NAA/Cho or NAA/Cr and surgical outcome in neocortical epilepsy. The mean contralateral NAA/Cr ratio of the hippocampus in mTLE was significantly lower in patients with a history of secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizure (SGTCS) than in those without. Our results demonstrate effects of seizures on the hippocampi in neocortical epilepsy and the relation between SGTCS and NAA/Cr of the contralateral hippocampus in mTLE. This proves the presence of a seizure effect on the hippocampus in neocortical epilepsy as well as in mTLE.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Microcystic meningiomas: radiological characteristics of 16 cases.

BACKGROUND: As a rare subtype of meningioma, only a few reports deal with radiological characteristics of microcystic meningiomas and the problem remains controversial. The authors have analyzed the radiological findings of a series of microcystic meningiomas with a special focus on magnetic resonance images (MRI) and conventional angiography. METHOD: Sixteen patients of histologically proven microcystic meningiomas were included. Analysis of preoperative MRI including signal intensity characteristics, enhancement patterns and peritumoural edema were performed and correlated with angiographic and histological findings. Peritumoural edema was graded using edema index (EI) which was defined as the ratio of VE/VT. FINDINGS: The tumours were uniformly visualized as a high-signal mass lesion in T2-weighted images and as a low-signal mass lesion in T1-weighted images regardless of tumour vascularity shown by angiography. T2-weighted images revealed that peritumoural brain edema was severe in 11, moderate in 1, mild in 2 and negligible in 2 patients and this was closely related to the co-existence of irregular tumour marginal enhancement. However, other features failed to distinguish these lesions from other subtypes of meningioma. CONCLUSIONS: The cases presented demonstrate that characteristic MRI findings suggestive of microcystic meningiomas are; (1) low signal intensity mass in T1- and high signal intensity mass in T2-weighted images; (2) high incidence of peritumoural edema.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Impact of pesticide application on zooplankton communities with different densities of invertebrate predators: an experimental analysis using small-scale mesocosms.

We assessed the responses of zooplankton communities with different population densities of an invertebrate predator, Mesocyclops pehpeiensis, to insecticide (carbaryl, 0.5 mgL(-1)) in small-scale mesocosm tanks (20 L). Cladocerans were eliminated by carbaryl application at both high and low predator densities. The density of rotifers increased after the elimination of the cladocerans by carbaryl application at low-predator density but not at high-predator density. Carbaryl application increased the relative importance of predatory interactions in the zooplankton community. The results suggest that predator abundance can affect the response of a zooplankton community to carbaryl application through predation on surviving zooplankton.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

Heat shock protein 70 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in Taiwanese patients with dementia.

This study was to determine whether polymorphisms of heat shock protein 70-1 (HSP70-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) are associated with the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Using the criteria of the NINCDS-ADRDA and NINDS-AIREN, 125 AD patients, 57 VaD patients and 109 ethnically matched nondemented controls were enrolled. The HSP70-1 -110 A/C and TNF-alpha -1031 T/C, -863 C/A and -857 C/T polymorphisms were analyzed by means of genotype or haplotype association methods. None of the four genotypes examined showed a statistically significant difference in genotype distribution between the AD cases and controls. However, the HSP70-1 -110 CC genotype occurred more frequently among AD cases (p=0.0821; odds ratio: 2.08; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.92-4.98). The overall genotype distribution among the VaD cases tended to be different at the HSP70-1 -110 and TNF-alpha -1031 sites (p=0.0604 and 0.0316, respectively). The HSP70-1 -110 CC genotype was more frequent (p=0.0459), and the association of the -110 CC genotype with VaD was evident (p=0.0207; odds ratio: 3.22; 95% CI: 1.20-8.87). The more frequent TNF-alpha -1031 TC genotype (p=0.0614) was also evidently associated with VaD (p=0.0209; odds ratio: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.14-4.78). Multivariate analysis demonstrated the synergistic effect of the HSP70-1 -110 CC and TNF-alpha -1031 TC/CC genotypes on VaD (p=0.0091; odds ratio: 10.09; 95% CI: 2.01-75.97). Haplotype analysis among TNF-alpha -1031, -863, -857 sites revealed that -1031C-857C may act as a risk haplotype among VaD cases (p=0.0132, odds ratio: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.19-4.33). Our results suggest a potential protective role for HSP70 in both VaD and AD, whereas TNF-alpha may act as a risk factor only for VaD, and not for AD.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation of the bioequivalence of capsules containing 150 mg of fluconazole.

Fluconazole is an antifungal agent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate bioequivalence of two commercial 150 mg capsule formulations of fluconazole available in the Brazilian market. The study was an open, randomized, two-period, two-group crossover trial with a 2-week washout interval. Blood samples were collected throughout a 96-h period after administration of reference product (R) and test product (T) to 28 fasting volunteers. A simple, accurate, precise and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection was developed and validated for quantification of fluconazole in plasma samples after liquid-liquid extraction. Bioequivalence between the products was determined by calculating 90% confidence intervals (90% C.I.) for the ratio of C(max), AUC(0-t) and AUC(0-infinity) values for the test and reference products, using logarithmic transformed data. The 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of C(max) (101.06-105.45%), AUC(0-t) (97.11-104.69%) and AUC(0-infinity) (97.96-103.36%) values for the test and reference products are within the 80-125% interval, proposed by FDA and EMEA. It was concluded that the two fluconazole formulations are bioequivalent in their rate and extent of absorption.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Limited utility of interictal apparent diffusion coefficient in the evaluation of hippocampal sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Quantitative measurement of diffusion has been studied as an independent parameter for the identification and characterization of abnormal hippocampi and temporal lobes in epileptic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In order to study the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from the temporal region, interictal DWI and ADC values were prospectively obtained from both hippocampal areas and temporal lobes bilaterally and compared between 19 normal volunteers and 20 medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) patients. RESULTS: In all patients, visual assessment of DWI failed to lateralize the lesion. However, the overall correct lateralization rate of interictal ADC was 100% (20/20) if the side with the higher ADC value was considered to be abnormal. Comparison of the MTLE lesion side values with those of the normal volunteers revealed that the ADC values measured from the hippocampal areas and temporal lobes of the MTLE patients were significantly higher than those from the normal volunteers on the lesion side (P < 0.05) and also on the contralateral side although not statistically significant. The absolute differences between the ADC values of the higher and lower side, in both the hippocampus and the temporal lobe, were not significant among the normal volunteers and the MTLE patients. CONCLUSION: Although the correct lateralization rate of interictal ADC in the MTLE patients was 100%, the application of elevated ADC value as a diagnostic criteria for MTLE was disappointing because such elevation in ADC values was not limited only to the ipsilateral temporal region but also in the contralateral side in MTLE.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Procedure-related haemorrhage in embolisation of intracranial aneurysms with Guglielmi detachable coils.

We reviewed the haemorrhagic complications of the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms, in terms of frequency, pre-embolisation clinical status, clinical and radiological manifestations, management and prognosis. In 275 patients treated for 303 aneurysms over 7 years we had seven (one man and six women--2.3%) with haemorrhage during or immediately after endovascular treatment. All procedures were performed with a standardised protocol of heparinisation and anaesthesia. Four had ruptured aneurysms, two at the tip of the basilar artery, and one ach on the internal carotid and posterior cerebral artery, treated after 12, 5, 14, and 2 days, respectively, three were in Hunt and Hess grade 2 and one in grade 1. Bleeding occurred during coiling in three, after placement of at least four coils, and during manipulation of the guidewire to enter the aneurysm in the fourth. Haemorrhage was manifest as extravasation of contrast medium, with a sudden rise in systolic blood pressure in three patients. The other three patients had unruptured aneurysms; they had stable blood pressure and angiographic findings during the procedure, but one, under sedation, had seizures immediately after insertion of four coils, and the other two had seizures, headache and vomiting on the day following the procedure. Heparin reversal with protamine sulphate was started promptly started when bleeding was detected in four patients, and the embolisation was completed with additional coils in three. Emergency ventricular drainage was performed in the two patients with ruptured aneurysm and one with an unruptured aneurysm who had abnormal neurological responses or hydrocephalus. The bleeding caused a third nerve palsy in one patient, which might have been due to ischaemia and progressively improved.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Clinical outcomes of pregnancy with one elevated glucose tolerance test value.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical outcomes of pregnancies with one elevated glucose tolerance test. METHODS: We performed a 50 g glucose challenge test (GCT) in 5,019 pregnant women at 24-28 weeks of gestation. In 1,170 women with plasma glucose levels over 130 mg/dl, a 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at 28-32 weeks of gestation. During follow-up, 282 patients were lost and in the 888 cases that were followed-up, 189 were excluded because of GDM. Therefore 699 study patients were divided into four groups: No Elevated group (NE, N = 577) with all four normal 100 g OGTT values, and Groups 1 (N = 16), 2 (N = 35), and 3 (N = 71) with one elevated 100 g OGTT value after 1, 2 and 3 h, respectively. RESULTS: Poor maternal outcomes (NE group, Group 1, Group 2, Group 3: 17.5%, 37.6%, 22.9%, 25.3%) with pre-eclampsia, cesarean delivery for cephalopelvic disproportion, failure to progress, or fetal distress, was highest in Group 1 (odds ratio 2.94; 95% confidence interval 1.02-8.42). Poor perinatal outcomes (15.8%, 43.1%, 14.3%, 21.1%) with any one of the following; fetal distress, Apgar score of < 7 at 5 min, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome, small for gestational age and perinatal death, was also highest in Group 1 (odds ratio 4.24; 95% confidence interval 1.02-17.52). CONCLUSION: Pregnancies with one elevated glucose tolerance test value after 1 h exhibited increased adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes compared with the group with all normal OGTT values or the groups with an elevated glucose tolerance test value after 2 or 3 h.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Does race protect an oriental population from developing lipodystrophy in HIV-infected individuals on HAART?

OBJECTIVES: Lipodystrophy, hyperlipidaemia and hyperinsulinaemia are common metabolic complications of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected Caucasians. We questioned whether such complications also occur in other races. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed in an outpatient clinic of a university teaching hospital with 156 Koreans, divided into HIV-infected subjects receiving HAART (n=57, group 1), HAART-naïve subjects (n=42, group 2), and healthy controls (n=57, group 3). Lipodystrophy was assessed by physical examination and questionnaire and body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasting triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, free fatty acid (FFA), Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), glucose, insulin, c-peptide, leptin, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), CD4, CD8 lymphocyte counts and HIV RNA load were measured. RESULTS: Lipodystrophy was observed in only 3.5% of HAART-treated HIV-infected Koreans. No statistical difference in regional fat accumulation or peripheral fat wasting was observed between groups 1, 2 and 3. No statistical difference in triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, FFA, ApoA1, ApoB, glucose, insulin, C-peptide, leptin, cortisol, and DHEA were observed between groups 1, 2 and 3. HDL cholesterol was significantly lower in HIV-infected individuals compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Lipodystrophy, hyperlipidaemia, and insulin resistance are rare metabolic complications of HAART in an oriental HIV-infected group of individuals. These findings warrant further race-specific metabolic complication studies in HIV-infected subjects receiving HAART.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2001

The retinoblastoma gene regulates somatic growth during mouse development.

Overexpression of the retinoblastoma gene (Rb) in mice leads to the dwarf phenotype. To explore the potential mechanism of Rb effects on the somatic growth, bitransgenic mice with tetracycline-regulated Rb expression were generated, and their phenotypes were compared with those of previously established Rb mouse models. By gestational day 12.5, embryos lacking Rb and those expressing twice the regular amount of Rb are 15% larger and 10-30% smaller, respectively, compared with their wild-type littermates. The dwarf phenotype is associated with increased plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) but not with growth hormone and glucose concentrations. Down-regulation of the Rb transgene expression results in a reduction of the IGF-I plasma concentrations to normalcy and an increase of somatic growth prenatally and postnatally. Consistent with the in vivo results, cells overexpressing Rb require higher thresholds of IGF-I to stimulate proliferation. Thus, Rb plays an integral role for mouse somatic growth and maintenance during ontogenesis, and IGF-I pathway is likely to be a target for such regulation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in nonconvulsive status epilepticus.

BACKGROUND: In human and experimental models, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) findings in status epilepticus (SE) have been reported to show that apparent diffusion coefficients are reduced during the initial phase and normalized or increased in the later phase of prolonged SE. This effect is caused by cytotoxic edema induced by excitotoxicity. In humans, only focal DWI abnormalities have been reported in partial SE. OBJECTIVES: To report and discuss the DWI findings suggesting diffuse neuronal injury in a patient with nonconvulsive SE. DESIGN AND METHODS: A 56-year-old man was admitted because of changing levels of consciousness over 3 days. On admission he was comatose. He had nystagmoid eye movement, forced eye blinking, and oroalimentary automatism. The results of a search for possible infectious and metabolic etiologies were negative, and electroencephalographic findings showed continuous, semirhythmic, bifrontal sharp waves of 2 Hz. Phenytoin and midazolam hydrochloride were infused to alleviate the seizure activities. He underwent DWI initially (3 days after the onset of seizure) and at the 5-month follow-up. SETTING: The neurology department of a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: During SE, DWI findings showed marked, diffuse gyriform cortical hyperintensity throughout the brain. The apparent diffusion coefficient decreased in the corresponding areas, especially in the occipital lobes. Findings from T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed the intense cortical hyperintensity with gyral swelling and no involvement of brainstem, basal ganglia, thalamus, and white matter. The follow-up DWI findings showed marked atrophy and hypointensity in the corresponding regions. The apparent diffusion coefficient increased in the corresponding regions. CONCLUSIONS: Diffusion-weighted imaging in our patient indicated that the magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities of the affected cortex were due to cytotoxic edema caused by neuronal excitotoxicity during prolonged SE. Diffusion-weighted imaging can be used in the localization of seizure focus for predicting the prognosis of the affected tissue and for researching the basic pathophysiology of SE.

Brain↗
PubMed2001

Localization of matrix metalloproteinases on endometrial cancer cell invasion in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we have established an in vitro three-dimensional (3D) coculture, where normal endometrial stromal cells and endometrial cancer cells were cocultured under defined hormonal conditions, to investigate the potential paracrine effects on synthesis and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and, thus, cancer invasion. METHODS: Endometrial stromal cells were obtained by biopsy, cultured in the presence of 100 nM estrogen for 3 days, and then mixed with extracellular matrix (ECM) composed of collagen I and matrigel in a 4:1 ratio. After 3 more days in culture, a 3D coculture was established with HEC-1A cells, an endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line, grown on top of the mixture under various ovarian steroids (no steroid, 100 nM beta-estradiol (E2), or 1.0 microM progesterone (P4)) for 10 days. The expression and localization of MMP-2, MMP-9, and integrin beta 3 subunit were visualized by immunocytochemistry and analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The extent of cancer invasion was quantified by Boyden's chamber assay. RESULTS: Integrin beta 3 subunit was localized along the cell surface of HEC-1A cell under all three hormonal conditions. MMP-2 was located in the cytoplasm of stromal cells and on the surface of HEC-1A cells. Synthesis and secretion of stromal MMP-2 were increased in the presence of ovarian steroids. In contrast, expression of stromal MMP-9 was suppressed in the presence of ovarian steroids. No MMPs were synthesized in HEC-1A cells. Invasion assay revealed that HEC-1A cells achieved high tumoral invasiveness in the presence of beta-estradiol. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that stromal cell-derived MMP-2 is translocated to the surface of HEC-1A cells. Integrin beta 3 subunit might contribute, in part, to providing a binding site for MMP-2. Thus, HEC-1A cells invade by recruiting MMP-2 secreted by stromal cells, which is greatly enhanced in the presence of beta-estradiol. The 3D coculture provides an excellent experimental system in which single parameters can be isolated from a complex in vivo system in the process of endometrial cancer invasion.

Adenocarcinoma↗