人子宫平滑肌肉瘤中性鞘糖脂含量、组成及其四糖基组分糖链结构的变化

本文分析了人子宫平滑肌肉瘤组织的中性鞘糖脂,发现子宫肉瘤组织的中性鞘糖脂的含量明显低于正常组织,组成成分虽与正常子宫平滑肌相似,均含有单、双、三、四糖基及多糖基组分,但各组分的相对含量则变化显著。肉瘤中所含短糖链的组分相对减少,高极性的CPH明显增加。本文还纯化了子宫肉瘤中性糖脂中主要的四糖基组分,应用HPTLC、酸解和酶解法以及特异单抗放射免疫染色法对该组分进行鉴定。结果证明子宫平滑肌中所含主要的四糖基组分糖链结构在正常组织为Globo系列的红细胞苷脂,而在肉瘤中则转变为乳糖系列的拟红细胞糖苷脂。     

Connective tissue responses in blacks in relation to disease: further observations

Additional information is presented in support of the hypothesis (Polednak: Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 41:49-58, 1974) that in some black populations certain connective-tissue responses, which are involved in protection against infection and repair after injury, also may predispose to specific chronic diseases. These diseases include some autoimmune disorders (i.e., systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, and scleroderma) and various benign and malignant tumors involving connective-tissue cells. Complex interactions between genetic factors (HLA and non-HLA loci) and environmental agents may be involved both in the etiology of these autoimmune diseases and in population differences in the incidence of these diseases. A framework is reviewed whereby cellular responses to infectious agents, involving chiefly immunoglobulin-producing cells and macrophages, may have consequences in terms of pathogenesis of specific chronic diseases more common in some black populations. The possible role of natural selection in maintaining some of these diseases is also considered, along with the need for involvement of biomedical anthropologists in their investigation.     

Histogenesis of carcinosarcoma and Establishment of leiomyosarcoma cell line (HTMMT) derived from human uterine carcinosarcoma

A cell line designated HTMMT was established from the human uterine carcinosarcoma (composed of leiomyosarcoma and adenocarcinoma) of a 66-year-old Japanese woman. The cell line grew well and 83 serial passages were successively done within 24 months. The cell line contained spindle- or fibrous-shaped cells that revealed neoplastic and pleomorphic features, and multipled rapidly without contact inhibition. These cells were characterized as possessing myofibrils. The karyotype exhibited hyperploidy and the chromosome number was ranged from 87 to 100. The cells were transplanted into an immune-depressed hamster cheek pouch or into nude mouse skin, but produced no tumors. We supported the combination theory for the histogenesis of the carcinosarcoma.     

A Role for Versican in the Development of Leiomyosarcoma

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a mesenchymal cancer that occurs throughout the body. Although LMS is easily recognized histopathologically, the cause of the disease remains unknown. Versican, an extracellular matrix proteoglycan, increases in LMS. Microarray analyses of 80 LMSs and 24 leiomyomas showed a significant elevated expression of versican in human LMS versus benign leiomyomas. To explore the importance of versican in this smooth muscle cell tumor, we used versican-directed siRNA to knock down versican expression in a LMS human cell line, SK-LMS-1. Decreased versican expression was accompanied by slower rates of LMS cell proliferation and migration, increased adhesion, and decreased accumulation of the extracellular matrix macromolecule hyaluronan. Addition of purified versican to cells expressing versican siRNA restored cell proliferation to the level of LMS controls, increased the pericellular coat and the retention of hyaluronan, and decreased cell adhesion in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of versican was not only synergistic with hyaluronan in increasing cell proliferation, but the depletion of versican decreased hyaluronan synthase expression and decreased the retention of hyaluronan. When LMS cells stably expressing versican siRNA were injected into nude mice, the resulting tumors displayed significantly less versican and hyaluronan staining, had lower volumes, and had reduced levels of mitosis as compared with controls. Collectively, these results suggest a role for using versican as a point of control in the management and treatment of LMS.