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Most basal cell neoplasms with follicular differentiation represent a heterogenous group of tumors. Although may arise anywhere in the skin, these neoplasms commonly occur on the head and neck regions. The majority of these neoplasms are basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and trichoepitheliomas (TE). Overlapping histopathologic features between these benign and malignant tumors are occasionally seen which may create problems in rendering a definitive diagnosis. The intent of this investigation was two-fold: 1) to examine whether there are quantitative differences of the cellular expression of Bcl-2, Ki67, PCNA and P53 between BCC and TE; and 2) to examine the value of these immunostains in differentiating between BCC and TE. Twenty cases of BCC were stained with antibodies for Bcl-2, Ki67, PCNA and P53. The positive cell indices and staining characteristic of these immunostains were compared with those of 20 cases of TE. The cell indices for each group were analyzed statistically utilizing the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. Intensity and patterns of Bcl-2 and P53 expression were similar between BCC and TE. The ANOVA analysis showed no statistically significant differences between cell indices for cases stained with antibodies for Bcl-2 and P53 (p=0.49 and p=0.87 respectively) in the two neoplastic groups. There were intense labelling and generalized patterns of Ki67 and PCNA expression in BCC. Conversly, Ki67- and PCNA-labelled cells were much fewer in TEs than those noted in BCCs. Additionally, Ki67- and PCNA-positive cells were limited to the peripheral layers of the neoplastic islands of TEs. There were statistically significant differences between cell indices for cases stained with antibodies for Ki67 and PCNA (p=0.02 and p=0.05 respectively) in the two neoplastic groups. BCC and TE exhibited comparable expressions of Bcl-2 and P53 with similar intensity of labelling and patterns of distribution. This suggests possible similar mechanisms of growth regulation in both neoplasms. However, Ki67 and PCNA labelling was noted with significantly increased numbers and recognizably different patterns in BCCs compared to TEs. This may help explain the significant capabilities in tumor proliferation and the aggressive behavior of BCC compared to the limited growth potential of TE. Additionally, Ki67 and PCNA staining intensity and characteristics may have some value in differentiating between BCC and TE.

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Breast cancer is the current leading cause of cancer death in females worldwide. Although current chemotherapeutic drugs effectively reduce the progression of breast cancer, most of these drugs have many unwanted side effects. Salvianolic acid B (Sal-B) is a bioactive compound isolated from the root of Danshen Radix with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Since free radicals play a key role in the initiation and progression of tumor cells growth and enhance their metastatic potential, the current study was designed to investigate the antitumor activity of Sal-B and compare it with the antitumor activity of the traditional anticancer drug, cisplatin. In vitro, Sal-B decreased the human breast cancer adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells proliferation in a concentration and time dependent manner. In vivo and similar to cisplatin treatment, Sal-B significantly reduced tumor volume and increased the median survival when compared to tumor positive control mice group injected with Ehrlich solid carcinoma cell line (ESC). Sal-B decreased plasma level of malondialdehyde as a marker of oxidative stress and increased plasma level of reduced glutathione (GSH) as a marker of antioxidant defense when compared to control ESC injected mice. Either Sal-B or cisplatin treatment decreased tumor tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), and Cyclin D1 in ESC treated mice. Contrary to cisplatin treatment, Sal-B did not decrease tumor tissue Ki-67 protein in ESC injected mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Sal-B or cisplatin treatment increased the expression of the apoptotic markers caspase-3 and P53. Although Sal-B or cisplatin significantly reduced the expression of the angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ESC injected mice, only Sal-B reduced expression level of COX-2 in ESC injected mice. Our data suggest that Sal-B exhibits antitumor features against breast cancer cells possibly via enhancing apoptosis and reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are master regulators of immune and inflammatory responses, but their own regulatory mechanisms and functional roles of their subtypes (i.e., ILC1s–ILC3s) remain largely unresolved. Interestingly, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), influences inflammatory responses, but its role in modulation of ILCs is not known. Periodontitis is a prevalent disorder with impairment of immune and inflammatory responses contributing importantly to its pathogenesis; however, neither the role of ILCs nor AMPK has been explored in this condition. We tested the hypotheses that (a) periodontitis increases ILCs and expression of relevant cytokines thereby contributing to inflammation and (b) knockdown of AMPK worsens indices of periodontitis in association with further increases in subtypes of ILCs and cytokine expression. The studies utilized wild-type (WT) and AMPK knockout (KO) mice, subjected to ligature-induced periodontitis or sham operation, in association with the use of micro-CT for assessment of bone loss, immunogold electron microscopy to show presence of ILCs in periodontal tissues, flow cytometry for quantitative assessment of subtypes of ILCs and RT-polymerase chain reaction analyses to measure mRNA expression of several relevant cytokines. The results for the first time show (a) presence of each subtype of ILCs in periodontal tissues of sham control and periodontitis animals, (b) that periodontitis is associated with increased frequencies of ILC1s–ILC3s with the effect more marked for ILC2s and differential phenotypic marker expression for ILC3s, (c) that AMPK KO mice display exacerbation of indices of periodontitis in association with further increases in the frequency of subtypes of ILCs with persistence of ILC2s effect, and (d) that periodontitis increased mRNA for interleukin (IL)-33, but not IL-5 or IL-13, in WT mice but expression of these cytokines was markedly increased in AMPK KO mice with periodontitis. Subsequently, we showed that human periodontitis is associated with increases in each ILCs subtype with the effect more marked for ILC2s and that mRNA expressions for IL-33 and IL-5 are markedly greater for sites affected by periodontitis than healthy sites. Collectively, these novel observations indicate a pivotal role for ILCs in pathogenesis of periodontitis and that AMPK is a regulator of their phenotype expression in this condition.

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