Biomedical subjects

Xiang Li

Publications and source records attributed to Xiang Li.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Interleukin-10 mediates the protective effect of Linomide by reducing CXC chemokine production in endotoxin-induced liver injury.

The immunomodulator Linomide has been shown to protect against septic liver injury by reducing hepatic accumulation of leukocytes although the detailed anti-inflammatory mechanisms remain elusive. This study examined the effect of Linomide on the production of CXC chemokines, including macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (KC) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/d-galactosamine (Gal)-induced liver injury in mice. It was found that pretreatment with 300 mg kg(-1) of Linomide markedly suppressed leukocyte recruitment, perfusion failure, and hepatocellular damage and apoptosis in the liver of endotoxemic mice. Administration of Linomide inhibited endotoxin-induced gene expression of MIP-2 and KC and significantly reduced the hepatic production of MIP-2 and KC by 63 and 80%, respectively. Moreover, it was found that Linomide increased the liver content of IL-10 by more than three-fold in endotoxemic mice. The protective effect of Linomide against endotoxin-induced inflammation and liver injury was abolished in IL-10-deficient mice, suggesting that the beneficial effect of Linomide is dependent on the function of IL-10. Taken together, these novel findings suggest that the protective effect of Linomide is mediated via local upregulation of IL-10, which in turn decreases the generation of CXC chemokines and pathological recruitment of leukocytes in the liver of endotoxemic mice.

Alanine Transaminase↗

PubMed2004

Refolding and purification of interferon-gamma in industry by hydrophobic interaction chromatography.

A new technology for renaturation with simultaneous purification of the recombinant human interferon-gamma (rhIFN-gamma) in downstream of biotechnology is presented. The strategies to develop the new technology in industry scale were suggested. Based on chemical equilibrium and molecular interactions, the principle of rhIFN-gamma refolding by HPHIC was described. The kind of stationary and mobile phases were evaluated and found the former to contribute to the rhIFN-gamma refolding more than the latter. The extract containing the rhIFN-gamma in gram scale in 7.0 mol L(-1) guanidine hydrochloride solution of 700 mL was directly pumped into a unit of simultaneous renaturation and purification of proteins (USRPP, 10 x 300 mm i.d.) packed by small particle packings of hydrophobic interaction chromatography and a satisfactory recovery of bioactivity and mass of the rhIFN-gamma was obtained. With flow rate 100 mL min(-1) and a gradient elution by only one step in 4h, the purity and specific bioactivity approach to 95% and 8.7 x 10(7) IU(-1) mg, respectively. To evaluate the goodness of the presented new technology in this study, a usual method with the renaturation by dilution method firstly and then purification with a series of LC in literature was employed to compare with each other. The obtained result in terms of purity, recoveries of mass and bioactivity, cost time as well as expenses, the former is much better than the latter. Comparing the total bioactivity of rhIFN-gamma in the extract before to that after the renaturation by the USRPP, the total bioactivity of rhIFN-gamma increased 62-fold.

Biotechnology↗

PubMed2004

The LEF-1 high-mobility group domain undergoes a disorder-to-order transition upon formation of a complex with cognate DNA.

Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor-1 (LEF-1), a member of the high-mobility group (HMG) family of proteins, functions as an architectural transcription factor. In complex with its cognate DNA, the LEF-1 domain is highly ordered, and its NMR spectra are characteristic of a folded globular protein. In contrast, the uncomplexed protein exhibits NMR evidence of substantial conformational heterogeneity, although circular dichroism spectra indicate that much of the alpha-helical secondary structure of the DNA-bound state is retained in the free protein. Heteronuclear NMR experiments performed on the free LEF-1 domain reveal that helix II and helix III of the HMG domain are folded, although helix III is truncated at its C-terminal end relative to the DNA-bound protein. The major hydrophobic core between helices II and III appears to be formed, but the minor core near the C-terminus of helix III is unstructured in the free protein. Backbone resonances of helix I are undetectable, probably as a result of exchange broadening due to fluctuations between two or more conformations on a microsecond-to-millisecond time scale. On the basis of the circular dichroism spectrum, this region of the polypeptide appears to adopt helical structure but the helix is not fully stabilized in the absence of DNA. These findings argue that, prior to binding, bending, and distorting DNA, the HMG domain of LEF-1 exists in a segmentally disordered or partially folded state. Upon complex formation, the protein domain undergoes a cooperative folding transition with DNA to a highly ordered and well-folded state.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2004

Developing optimal non-linear scoring function for protein design.

UNLABELLED: Motivation. Protein design aims to identify sequences compatible with a given protein fold but incompatible to any alternative folds. To select the correct sequences and to guide the search process, a design scoring function is critically important. Such a scoring function should be able to characterize the global fitness landscape of many proteins simultaneously. RESULTS: To find optimal design scoring functions, we introduce two geometric views and propose a formulation using a mixture of non-linear Gaussian kernel functions. We aim to solve a simplified protein sequence design problem. Our goal is to distinguish each native sequence for a major portion of representative protein structures from a large number of alternative decoy sequences, each a fragment from proteins of different folds. Our scoring function discriminates perfectly a set of 440 native proteins from 14 million sequence decoys. We show that no linear scoring function can succeed in this task. In a blind test of unrelated proteins, our scoring function misclassfies only 13 native proteins out of 194. This compares favorably with about three-four times more misclassifications when optimal linear functions reported in the literature are used. We also discuss how to develop protein folding scoring function.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

[Study on Toll-like receptors expression and cytokine production induced by bacillus Calmette-Guerin in human bladder cancer cell].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) on Toll-like receptors (TLRs) expression and cytokine production in human bladder cancer cell line T24. METHODS: Human transitional carcinoma cell line T24 was cultured in RPMI1640 medium with 10% FBS, BCG was added into the cell culture with various doses in bacteria-cell ratio. After T24 cells were stimulated by BCG for 1 hour, total RNA of cells was extracted. RT-PCR procedure was conducted with the primer of TLR-2 and TLR-4, and the products were analyzed with agarose gels electrophoresis. Then the expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4 in T24 cells was assessed by the analyzing system of gel imaging. After the stimulation culture for 12 hours, the supernatant of cells was collected. The levels of IL-4 and IL-12 in each sample were assayed by ELISA method. RESULTS: The expression level of either TLR-2 or TLR-4 was increased by the stimulation of BCG in a dose-dependent manner, the effects reached the maximal level at the dose of BCG as 10 bacilli per cell. The production of IL-12 in T24 cells was also increased gradually by the stimulation of BCG in a dose-dependent manner, and the dose of BCG obtained maximal effect was 10 bacilli per cell, which is coincident with the results observed in the expression of TLRs. There was no difference showed on the production of IL-4 between T24 cells stimulated with BCG and control. CONCLUSIONS: The stimulation of BCG not only up-regulated the expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4, but also increased the production of IL-12 in bladder cancer T24 cell line. The expression of TLRs and the production of cytokine in bladder cancer cells may be related to the BCG-induced immunol response to human bladder cancer.

BCG Vaccine↗

PubMed2004

Lymphocyte function antigen-1 mediates leukocyte adhesion and subsequent liver damage in endotoxemic mice.

1. Sepsis is associated with leukocyte activation and recruitment in the liver. We investigated the role of lymphocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1) in endotoxin-induced leukocyte-endothelium interactions, microvascular perfusion failure, hepatocellular injury and apoptosis in the liver by use of gene-targeted mice, blocking antibodies and a synthetic inhibitor of LFA-1 (LFA703). For this purpose, mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)+D-galactosamine (Gal), and intravital microscopy of the liver microcirculation was conducted 6 h later. 2. The number of firmly adherent leukocytes in response to LPS/Gal was reduced by 48% in LFA-1-deficient mice. Moreover, endotoxin-induced increases of apoptosis and enzyme markers of hepatocellular injury were decreased by 64 and 69-90%, respectively, in LFA-1-deficient mice. Furthermore, sinusoidal perfusion was improved in endotoxemic mice lacking LFA-1. 3. A similar protective pattern was observed in endotoxemic mice pretreated with an antibody against LFA-1. Thus, immunoneutralization of LFA-1 reduced endotoxin-induced leukocyte adhesion by 55%, liver enzymes by 64-66% and apoptosis by 42%, in addition to the preservation of microvascular perfusion. 4. Administration of a novel statin-derived inhibitor of LFA-1, LFA703, significantly decreased leukocyte adhesion (more than 56%) and the subsequent liver injury in endotoxemic mice. 5. Thus, this study demonstrates a pivotal role of LFA-1 in supporting leukocyte adhesion in the liver. Moreover, interference with LFA-1-mediated leukocyte adhesion protects against endotoxemic liver damage, and may constitute a potential therapeutic strategy in sepsis.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Prognostic value of contrast stress echocardiography in patients with image quality too limited for traditional noncontrast harmonic echocardiography.

Clinical data and contrast stress echocardiography (CSE) results were analyzed in 283 patients to establish the prognostic value of CSE for patients with limited echocardiogram image quality at baseline. The mean follow-up period was 736 +/- 337 days. Only 7 patients (2.5%) had nondiagnostic image quality with contrast enhancement. During follow-up, 24 cardiac events (8.5%) occurred (5 cardiac-related deaths, 2 nonfatal myocardial infarction, 17 coronary revascularizations). Overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 60.9%, 76.8%, 19.7%, and 95.5%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier event-free survival was higher for patients with a negative CSE result as compared with those with a positive CSE finding (P <.0001). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, positive CSE was the strongest predictor of cardiac events (risk ratio 3.7; 95% confidence interval 1.6-8.7). CSE can successfully predict cardiac events for patients with limited noncontrast echocardiographic image quality. A negative CSE result conferred a good prognosis.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

PubMed2004

Staphylococcal enterotoxin A-induced hepatotoxicity is predominantly mediated by Fas ligand (CD95L).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and Fas ligand (FasL, CD95L) in superantigen-induced and endotoxin-induced liver injury. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Gram-positive bacteria are increasingly common causes of sepsis and multiorgan failure, but the pathophysiologic mechanisms of superantigen-provoked hepatotoxicity remain elusive. METHODS: Intravital fluorescence microscopy was used to study the liver microcirculation in mice challenged with superantigen (staphylococcal enterotoxin A, SEA) or endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) combined with D-galactosamine. RESULTS: Administration of 10 microg LPS and 50 microg SEA caused similar hepatocellular damage as determined by liver enzymes and apoptosis. Notably, TNF-alpha-deficient mice were completely protected against hepatic injury provoked by LPS, whereas no protection was observed in response to SEA. On the other hand, FasL-deficient mice were protected against liver injury induced by SEA, but no protection was found when challenged with LPS. LPS increased clear-cut leukocyte recruitment, whereas SEA had no significant effect on leukocyte responses in the liver microcirculation. Leukocyte responses to LPS were decreased by >56% in TNF-alpha gene-targeted animals. Moreover, antiadhesive therapy, ie, immunoneutralization of P-selectin, which is an effective inhibitor of leukocyte recruitment, protected against LPS-induced but not against SEA-induced hepatic damage. CONCLUSIONS: These novel findings demonstrate that the mechanisms of hepatic injury in endotoxin-induced and superantigen-induced sepsis are principally different. On one hand, SEA-provoked hepatotoxicity is mediated by FasL and is not associated with leukocyte recruitment. On the other hand, liver damage provoked by LPS is mediated by TNF-alpha and characterized by prominent leukocyte responses. These data may facilitate development of more specific therapies against sepsis of different origins.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Development of genome-wide DNA polymorphism database for map-based cloning of rice genes.

DNA polymorphism is the basis to develop molecular markers that are widely used in genetic mapping today. A genome-wide rice (Oryza sativa) DNA polymorphism database has been constructed in this work using the genomes of Nipponbare, a cultivar of japonica, and 93-11, a cultivar of indica. This database contains 1,703,176 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 479,406 Insertion/Deletions (InDels), approximately one SNP every 268 bp and one InDel every 953 bp in rice genome. Both SNPs and InDels in the database were experimentally validated. Of 109 randomly selected SNPs, 107 SNPs (98.2%) are accurate. PCR analysis indicated that 90% (97 of 108) of InDels in the database could be used as molecular markers, and 68% to 89% of the 97 InDel markers have polymorphisms between other indica cultivars (Guang-lu-ai 4 and Long-te-pu B) and japonica cultivars (Zhong-hua 11 and 9522). This suggests that this database can be used not only for Nipponbare and 93-11, but also for other japonica and indica cultivars. While validating InDel polymorphisms in the database, a set of InDel markers with each chromosome 3 to 5 marker was developed. These markers are inexpensive and easy to use, and can be used for any combination of japonica and indica cultivars used in this work. This rice DNA polymorphism database will be a valuable resource and important tool for map-based cloning of rice gene, as well as in other various research on rice (http://shenghuan.shnu.edu.cn/ricemarker).

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Anti-sickling effect of MX-1520, a prodrug of vanillin: an in vivo study using rodents.

Vanillin, a food additive, covalently binds with sickle haemoglobin (Hb S), inhibits cell sickling and shifts the oxygen equilibrium curve towards the left. These effects would potentially benefit patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). However, vanillin has no therapeutic effect if given orally because orally administered vanillin is rapidly decomposed in the upper digestive tract. To overcome this problem, a vanillin prodrug, MX-1520, which is biotransformed to vanillin in vivo, was synthesized. Studies using transgenic sickle mice, which nearly exclusively develop pulmonary sequestration upon exposure to hypoxia, showed that oral administration of MX-1520 prior to hypoxia exposure significantly reduced the percentage of sickled cells in the blood. The survival time under severe hypoxic conditions was prolonged from 6.6 +/- 0.8 min in untreated animals to 28.8 +/- 12 min (P < 0.05) and 31 +/- 7.5 min (P < 0.05) for doses of 137.5 and 275 mg/kg respectively. Intraperitoneal injection of MX-1520 to bypass possible degradation in the digestive tract showed that doses as low as 7 mg/kg prolonged the survival time and reduced the percentage of sickled cells during hypoxia exposure. These results demonstrate the potential for MX-1520 to be a new and safe anti-sickling agent for patients with SCD.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

PubMed2004

Important role of P-selectin for leukocyte recruitment, hepatocellular injury, and apoptosis in endotoxemic mice.

Leukocyte recruitment in the liver includes a two-step procedure in which selectin-dependent leukocyte rolling is a prerequisite for subsequent CD18-dependent leukocyte firm adhesion in postsinusoidal venules. However, the roles of the individual selectins in leukocyte rolling and adhesion, hepatocellular injury, and apoptosis remain elusive. Therefore, we examined the pathophysiological role of P-, E-, and L-selectin in male C57BL/6 mice challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and D-galactosamine (Gal) by use of intravital microscopy of the liver microcirculation. In control animals, administration of LPS-Gal provoked reproducible hepatic damage, including marked increases of leukocyte recruitment, liver enzymes, and hepatocyte apoptosis and reduced sinusoidal perfusion. Interestingly, pretreatment with an anti-P-selectin antibody (RB40.34) markedly reduced leukocyte rolling and firm adhesion by 65 and 71%, respectively. Moreover, interference with P-selectin function significantly improved sinusoidal perfusion and reduced the increase in liver enzymes by 49 to 84% in endotoxemic mice. Moreover, the activity of caspase-3 and the number of apoptotic hepatocytes were significantly reduced by 55 and 54%, respectively, in RB40.34-treated animals. In contrast, administration of an anti-E-selectin antibody (10E9.6) and an anti-L-selectin antibody (Mel-14) did not protect against endotoxin-induced leukocyte responses or hepatic injury. In conclusion, our novel findings document a principal role of P-selectin in mediating leukocyte rolling, a precondition to the subsequent firm adhesion of leukocytes in liver injury. Furthermore, our novel data demonstrate that inhibition of P-selectin function reduces hepatocellular injury and apoptosis, suggesting a causal relationship between leukocyte recruitment on one hand and hepatocellular injury and apoptosis on the other hand. Based on these findings, it is suggested that P-selectin may be an important therapeutic target in endotoxin-induced liver injury.

Alanine Transaminase↗

PubMed2004

[Analysis of vitamins and inorganic elements in the water extracts of Radix Changii].

OBJECTIVE: To study the material basis of the tonifying effect of Radix Changii by observing its contents of nutrient elements. METHODS: The contents of vitamins in Radix Changii and inorganic elements in the water extracts of it were tested by high performance liquid chromatography, fluorescence spectrophotography and scanning electron microanalysis. RESULTS: Radix Changii contains fat-soluble vitamins E and K 259.2 and 64.1 microg/kg respectively, and water-soluble vitamins C, B1 and B2 78.5, 0.6 and 0.7 mg/kg respectively. Its decoction contains abundant potassium and calcium ions. CONCLUSION: Radix Changii is rich in elements necessary for human body. It has the material basis for tonification.

Aluminum↗

PubMed2004

[Effect of ultra-fine powder technique on dissolution rates of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide in Andrographis paniculata].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of ultra-fine powder technique on dissolution rates of the components in Andrographis paniculata. METHODS: High performance liquid chromatography was employed to determine the concentration of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide in common powdered or ultra-fine powdered Andrographis paniculata. RESULTS: The dissolution rates of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide in ultra-fine powdered Andrographis paniculata were higher than those of the general powder. CONCLUSION: Ultra-fine powder technique promotes the dissolution rates of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide.

Andrographis↗

PubMed2004

[Expression and role of early growth response gene-1 in experimental silicosis of rat].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression and location of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1), transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), fibronectin (FN) in silicotic rat and to discuss the role of Egr-1 in the development of silicosis. METHODS: Silicotic animal model of rat was established, and the expressions of Egr-1, TGF-beta(1), FN in various lung cells of silicotic rat were analysed by using immunohistochemical technique (SP) and the image analysis. RESULTS: The expressions of Egr-1 in bronchial epithelial cell, pulmonary macrophage, alveolar epithelium cell and interstitial cell in lung silicotic tissue (gray values: 118.58 +/- 5.65 - 168.52 +/- 5.67) were higher than those of controls (gray values: 166.23 +/- 5.23 - 188.12 +/- 8.35) during 1 - 28 days, and the expression was mainly in nucleus; the expressions of TGF-beta(1) in these cells (gray values: 123.49 +/- 5.65 - 170.24 +/- 3.56) were also higher than those of controls (166.53 +/- 6.25 - 198.56 +/- 4.53), and the expression was mainly in cytoplasm. The expressions of FN in bronchial epithelial cell, pulmonary macrophage and alveolar epithelial cell (gray values: 150.32 +/- 6.54 - 201.54 +/- 7.38) were lower, while those in interstitial cell (gray values: 121.43 +/- 5.65 - 167.55 +/- 6.35) were higher than those of controls. The changes of TGF-beta(1) and Egr-1 expression level in bronchial epithelial cell, pulmonary macrophage, alveolar epithelium cell and interstitial cell were synchronous during the experiment (1 - 28 days). Both of them were correlated with each other (r = 0.61, P < 0.01), while the expression of FN was not correlated with Egr-1, but correlated to TGF-beta(1) in interstitial cell (r = 0.46, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Silicon dioxide could up-regulate the expression of nuclear transcription factor Egr-1 in several kinds of cell in lung. The activated Egr-1 may coordinate the expression of TGF-beta(1) and FN to regulate the development of silicosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

[Study on the inducible expression of toll-like receptors in human bladder cell line].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in human bladder cells under the stimulus of Escherichia coli (E. coli) versus that under the stimulus of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). METHODS: Human bladder cancer cell line T24 was cultured for 1 hour under the stimuli of various doses (bacillus-cell ratio) of E. coli and BCG respectively. The levels of expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4 mRNA in T24 cells were assessed by RT-PCR method. RESULTS: By comparison with control, there was no difference observed on the expression of either TLR-2 or TLR-4 in T24 cells under the stimulus of E. coli. The expression level of either TLR-2 or TLR-4 was increased under the stimulus of BCG in a dose-dependent manner. The effects reached the highest level when the dose of BCG was 10 bacilli per cell. CONCLUSION: There exist different expression patterns of TLRs in bladder transitional cells under the different stimuli of E. coli and BCG respectively.

BCG Vaccine↗

PubMed2004

[The role of Egr-1 and NF-kappaB in the pathogenesis of silicosis: an in-vitro study].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between the expression of Egr-1 and NF-kappaB and the up-regulation of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 in macrophages after stimulation by silica in-vitro. METHODS: Macrophages were treated with antibodies against Egr-1 and NF-kappaB and antisense oligonucleotides. The level of TNF-alpha protein in the cell supernatant was then measured using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of TGF-beta1 protein was detected by immunocytochemistry. The expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 mRNAs was also monitored by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Compared with silica-stimulated macrophages untreated with antibodies, the cells treated with 10 micro g/ml of Egr-1 or NF-kappaB antibodies were associated with reduced expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 proteins and mRNAs (P < 0.05). Compared with silica-stimulated untransfected group, the antisense group was associated with obvious reduction in the expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 proteins and mRNAs (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 mRNAs and proteins are associated with activation of Egr-1 and NF-kappaB in macrophages, after stimulation by silica. It is possible that the corresponding antibodies and antisense oligonucleotides may become a potential therapeutic tool in the management of silicosis in the future.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

[Expression and significance of Hsp70 and PCNA during the development of forestomach carcinoma in NIH mice].

AIM: To explore the expressions and significance of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the development of forestomach carcinoma in NIH mice induced with N-Nitrososarcosineethylester(NSEE). METHODS: 144 mice were divided into 6 groups and their stomachs were infused with NSEE. Then 24 mice were killed every two weeks and their forestomachs were used for the study of the expressions of Hsp70 and PCNA by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: With the progress of carcinogenesis, the expression pattern of Hsp70 was up-down-up, but the expression trend was still increasing. On day 56 and day 70 after NSEE treatment, the expression level of Hsp70 was higher than that of control (P<0.05). On day 84, the expression level of Hsp70 was markedly higher than that of control (P<0.01). The expression of PCNA increased gradually with the carcinogenesis. As compared with the control, stronger expression was found on day 42 and day 56 (P<0.05) and notably stronger expression on day 84 (P<0.01). The expression of Hsp70 was positively correlated to that of PCNA (r=0.98, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In the development of forestomach carcinoma of NIH mice, the expressions of both Hsp70 and PCNA increased and were positively correlated with each other.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

[Solitary fibrous tumor: the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of 26 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) and its biologic behaviour. METHODS: Clinicopathologic data of 26 cases were collected and analyzed. Among them, immunohistochemical staining (Envision method) for CD34, vimentin, CD99, bcl-2, S-100, SMA, HBME-1, EMA and Ki67 were performed in 23 cases. RESULTS: The 17 male and 9 female patients were between 15 and 66 years of age (mean, 44). Their SFTs were located in nose and nasopharynx, cranial cavity, soft tissue, mediastinum, and parietal and visceral pleura. The main clinical manifestations were local mass and pressure symptom. The characteristic microscopic features included patternless growth pattern, alternating hyper- and hypo-cellular areas, blunt spindle cells within keloid-like hyalinization, and hemangiopericytoma-like regions. Positive immunohistochemical staining: vimentin 100%(23/23), CD34 82%(19/23), bcl-2 87%(20/23), CD99 100%(23/23), SMA 30%(7/23). All cases were negative for S-100, HBME-1 and EMA. Follow-up information on 13 cases revealed that 3 patients had had relapse and died, the other 10 patients were alive without evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION: SFT is a rare mesenchymal spindle cell tumor which may be found in various parts of human body and needs to be distinguished from other spindle cell tumors by differential diagnosis. The immunophenotype can be of help in this connexion. About 10% to 23% SFTs have malignant behaviour, manifesting as local recurrence or metastasis. The behavior of SFT is unpredictable, which requires careful, longterm follow-up.

12E7 Antigen↗