Review Replica Impression of Biological Cells and Bioimprint

A technique for permanently capturing a replica impression of biological cells has been developed to facilitate analysis using nanometer resolution imaging tools, namely the atomic force microscope(AFM). The method, termed Bioimprint, creates a permanent cell 'footprint' in a non-biohazardous Poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) polymer composite. The transfer of nanometer scale biological information is presented as an alternative imaging technique at a resolution beyond that of optical microscopy. By transferring cell topology into a rigid medium more suited for AFM imaging, many of the limitations associated with scanning of biological specimens can be overcome.Potential for this technique is demonstrated by analyzing Bioimprint replicas created from human endometrial cancer cells. The high resolution transfer of this process is further detailed by imaging membrane morphological structures consistent with exocytosis. The integration of soft lithography to replicate biological materials presents an enhanced method for the study of biological systems at the nano scale.

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Review About Asbestos, Lung Cancers, and Mesotheliomas

Fifteen years have passed since we published findings in the AJRCMB demonstrating that induction of early response fos/jun proto-oncogenes in rodent tracheal and mesothelial cells correlates with fibrous geometry and pathogenicity of asbestos. Our study was the first to suggest that the aberrant induction of signaling responses by crocidolite asbestos and erionite, a fibrous zeolite mineral associated with the development of malignant mesotheliomas (MMs) in areas of Turkey, led to altered gene expression. New data questioned the widely held belief at that time that the carcinogenic effects of asbestos in the development of lung cancer and MM were due to genotoxic or mutagenic effects. Later studies by our group revealed that proto-oncogene expression and several of the signaling pathways activated by asbestos were redox dependent, explaining why antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes were elevated in lung and pleura after exposure to asbestos and how they alleviated many of the phenotypic and functional effects of asbestos in vitro or after inhalation. Since these original studies, our efforts have expanded to understand the interface between asbestos-induced redox-dependent signal transduction cascades, the relationship between these pathways and cell fate, and the role of asbestos and cell interactions in development of asbestos-associated diseases. Of considerable significance is the fact that the signal transduction pathways activated by asbestos are also important in survival and chemoresistance of MMs and lung cancers. An understanding of the pathogenic features of asbestos fibers and dysregulation of signaling pathways allows strategies for the prevention and therapy of asbestos-related diseases. 

Keyword Search:

Animals, Apoptosis -- drug effects, Humans, Lung Neoplasms -- metabolism, MAP Kinase Signaling System -- drug effects, Mesothelioma -- metabolism, Models, Biological, NF-kappa B -- metabolism, Oxidants -- metabolism, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos -- metabolism, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun -- metabolism, Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor -- metabolism, Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor -- metabolism, Signal Transduction -- drug effects, Transcription Factor AP-1 -- metabolism, Asbestos -- toxicity (major), Lung Neoplasms -- etiology (major), Mesothelioma -- etiology (major)

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Review About Asbestos Scandal

Viewed through an electron microscope, asbestos fibres look like thin glass straws, some no more than a fraction of a micro metre wide. If inhaled, they penetrate the soft alveoli of the lungs and the membranes that line the chest cavity. And there they stay. Over time, damaged cells can cause a malignant disease called mesothelioma, which often kills people, horribly, less than a year after diagnosis. 

Keyword Search:

Asbestos;
Disease;
Public health

Asbestos -- economics, Asbestos, Serpentine -- adverse effects, Asbestos, Serpentine -- supply & distribution, Carcinogens -- supply & distribution, Carcinogens -- toxicity, Construction Materials -- adverse effects, Construction Materials -- economics, Construction Materials -- supply & distribution, Humans, Industry -- economics, Internationality, Mesothelioma -- epidemiology, Mesothelioma -- prevention & control, Asbestos -- adverse effects (major), Asbestos -- supply & distribution (major), Industry -- legislation & jurisprudence (major), Mesothelioma -- chemically induced (major)

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Review About Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in a Female Lion

An 18-year-old female lion (Panthera leo ) was referred to the Department of Animal Pathology of the University of Turin (Italy). At necropsy, multiple nodular, 4-20-mm, confluent white firm nodules were scattered throughout the pleural surfaces of the thoracic wall and of the lungs. Histological lesions were represented by proliferations of papillary structures lined by cuboidal basophilic mesothelial cells with large, oval nuclei and abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemistry revealed immunoreactivity for pancytokeratin and vimentin. None of the cells expressed calretinin antigen. 

Asbestos fibers and asbestos bodies were not detected respectively by light microscopy and by Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometer investigations. On the contrary, chrysotile asbestos were identified in samples from shelter material. Histological and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with the diagnosis of an epithelial malignant mesothelioma. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of a pleural mesothelioma in a lion. 

Keyword Search:

Asbestos;
Studies;
Tumors;
Zoos;
Microscopy

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Review About Mutations Predispose to Malignant Mesothelioma

Because only a small fraction of asbestos-exposed individuals develop malignant mesothelioma, and because mesothelioma clustering is observed in some families, we searched for genetic predisposing factors. We discovered germline mutations in the gene encoding BRCA1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) in two families with a high incidence of mesothelioma, and we observed somatic alterations affecting BAP1 in familial mesotheliomas, indicating biallelic inactivation. In addition to mesothelioma, some BAP1 mutation carriers developed uveal melanoma. We also found germline BAP1 mutations in 2 of 26 sporadic mesotheliomas; both individuals with mutant BAP1 were previously diagnosed with uveal melanoma. 

We also observed somatic truncating BAP1 mutations and aberrant BAP1 expression in sporadic mesotheliomas without germline mutations. These results identify a BAP1-related cancer syndrome that is characterized by mesothelioma and uveal melanoma. We hypothesize that other cancers may also be involved and that mesothelioma predominates upon asbestos exposure. These findings will help to identify individuals at high risk of mesothelioma who could be targeted for early intervention.

Keyword Search:

Mutation;
Medical research;
Tumors;
Genetics

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Review About Mesotheliomas with Small Cell Features

Mesotheliomas with small cell morphology are rare and only one study of such cases has been published. As a result of their rare occurrence, some investigators have cast doubt on the existence of such a histologic variant of mesothelioma. This investigator reports a series of eight cases of epithelioid mesothelioma with small cell features, all of which originated in the pleura. Seven of the patients were men and one was a woman. 

Four patients had a history of asbestos exposure. Histologically, four of the mesotheliomas were epithelioid and four biphasic. The proportion of small cells seen in these cases constituted 80 to 100% of the tumor included in the biopsy material and 15 to 20% of the tumor present in the pneumonectomy specimens. Immunoreactivity for calretinin, keratin 5/6, keratin 7, pan-keratin, WT1, podoplanin, and mesothelin was seen in all cases tested for these markers. All of the cases were negative for MOC-31, Ber-EP4, CEA, CD15, TAG-72, TTF-1, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, CD99, and desmin. 

The mean survival of the six patients for whom this information was available was 8.2 months. It is important for pathologists to be aware that mesotheliomas can present small cell features and, because of this, they can be confused with other malignancies that can exhibit similar morphology. The value of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of these tumors is discussed. 

Keyword Search:

Aged, Asbestos -- adverse effects, Combined Modality Therapy, Epithelioid Cells -- metabolism, Female, Humans, Male, Mesothelioma -- etiology, Mesothelioma -- metabolism, Mesothelioma -- mortality, Middle Aged, Pleural Neoplasms -- etiology, Pleural Neoplasms -- metabolism, Pleural Neoplasms -- mortality, Pneumonectomy, Survival Rate, Texas -- epidemiology, Tumor Markers, Biological -- metabolism, Epithelioid Cells -- pathology (major), Mesothelioma -- pathology (major), Pleural Neoplasms -- pathology (major)

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