Xin Wu — Page 3 | PubMed Health

PubMed2002

Expression of midkine in benign, premalignant and malignant vulvar tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the role of midkine (MK) in vulvar carcinogenesis though examination of its expression in vulvar lesions including vulvar condyloma acuminata (VCA), vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and vulvar squamous cell carcinomas (VSCC), and to analyze the relationship between MK expression and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. METHODS: Thirty VSCC, 15 VIN and 10 VCA patients were studied by streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method. MK expression was compared with clinicopathologic features of vulvar tumors. RESULTS: MK was expressed in 26 of 30 VSCC (87%), 3 of 5 VIN III and all VCA samples, whereas no MK expression was detected in the VIN I-II samples or in normal epithelium. The difference of MK expression between VIN III and VSCC was statistically significant (P < 0.05). MK was more intensely expressed in differentiated-type (well differentiated and moderately differentiated) VSCC than in undifferentiated-type (poorly differentiated) VSCC. There was no statistically significant correlation between MK expression and clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and HPV infection in VSCC. MK expression were observed in all HPV-positive specimens including 2 VSCC, 1 VIN III and all VCA. CONCLUSIONS: MK gene expression may be a late event in vulvar squamous cell malignant transformation, and may be associated with vulvar tumor cell differentiation. HPV-positive vulvar tumors expressed MK protein.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Integrins as unique receptors for vascular control.

Cells within the vascular wall connect their cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix (ECM) through a family of cell surface receptors known as integrins. The ability of integrins to act as a link between the extracellular and intracellular environments allows transmission of inside-out and outside-in signals capable of modulating diverse vascular phenomena. In this review we summarize what is currently known about the involvement of integrins in the control of vascular tone, permeability and remodeling. We discuss the capacity of integrins to act as detectors of injury-generated molecules derived from ECM proteins, as well as the putative role of integrins as mechanosensors for shear and tension. Particular attention is given to the mechanisms responsible for linking integrins to the control of vascular tone, and we review the intracellular signaling pathways involved in effecting the vascular responses elicited by integrin activation. Finally, the involvement of integrins in vascular remodeling and vascular disease is analyzed. Considerable evidence strongly indicates that integrins are involved in both acute and chronic vascular control. Understanding the elements and the sequence of events linking integrins with vasoregulation is important for deciphering phenomena such as the pressure-dependent myogenic response, flow-dependent changes in vascular diameter, and vascular remodeling as they occur in physiological and pathological conditions. Further understanding of the role of integrins in vascular control holds promise as new avenues for prophylactic and therapeutic manipulation of vascular phenomena.

Animals↗