The thymus of outbred male rats 5 months after splenectomy (experimental secondary immunodeficiency) was studied by common histological and immunohistochemical methods using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to CD3, CD30, CD68, synaptophysin, to S100, p53, bcl-2, and Ki-67 proteins. Removal of the spleen led to acute involution of the thymic parenchyma, which was replaced by the adipose tissue and was associated with restructuring of the thymopoietic and nonthymopoietic components of the gland, changes in cellular composition and antigenic phenotype of the lobular cortical and medullary matter, and by reduction of cell proliferation.
Introduction. Breast cancer in women is a very common malignant tumor. The prognosis of the development and management of the disease depend on the clinical stage and biological subtype of the tumor. The aim of the research was to study immunohistochemical characteristics of sentinel lymph nodes in various molecular and biological subtypes of breast cancer. Materials and methods. We studied 44 lymph nodes of females with a diagnosed breast cancer using histological and immunohistochemical methods. Regional axillary lymph nodes without signs of metastatic lesions were taken into the investigation. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed; monoclonal antibodies to S100 protein and cluster of lymphocyte differentiation 4 and 8 were used. We used light microscopy to assess the results. Results. We determined molecular and biological subtypes of breast cancer. In 45.5% of cases (n=20) women were diagnosed with luminal cancer (Lum); in 25% of cases (n=11), with Her2+ variant; and in 29.5% of cases (n=13), with Tr– cancer (triple-negative). A more pronounced expression of S100-positive cells was observed in the paracortical zone of lymph nodes in triple-negative compared with the luminal one. We revealed uneven distribution of СD8+ lymphocytes in various subtypes of breast cancer, with an increase in their area in the following sequence: Lum (18.6%), Her2+ (19.8%), and Tr– (20.1%). The lowest number of СD4+ lymphocytes was found in the luminal breast cancer. The largest number of CD4+ cells was observed in the Her2+ subtype. Conclusion. The research demonstrated no reliable differences in the reaction of various sub-populations of T-lymphocytes in early-stage breast cancer. At the same time, we revealed a reliable increase in the number of intrafollicular S100+ cells that indicates dendrite cells activation in Tr– cancer. Keywords: breast cancer, immunohistochemistry, regional lymph node, cellular immunity, lymphocytes
The immune system as a whole plays a leading role in the formation of an adequate immune response during the onset and development of tumors. The aim of the study was to reveal the features of the change in the morphology and level of biogenic amines of the thymus of rats during experimental carcinogenesis of breast cancer by the injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. In the work used luminescence-histochemical, general histological and immunohistochemical methods, which made it possible to obtain important information about the functional activity of the cellular elements of the thymus, the quantitative composition of macrophages, dendritic cells, lymphocytes and the qualitative characteristics of mast cells. The experiment was carried out on 85 white nonlinear female rats, which were injected with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, which induces a breast tumor. Animals were divided into two groups: intact (n=30) and rats injected with a carcinogen (n=45). The thymus structure was examined 1, 2, and 3 months after the end of the injections. During the study, changes in the morphometric parameters of the organ are noted. A month after the injection of the drug, the area of the medulla of the thymus and the thickness of the cortex substance of the organ increases, which decrease with an increase in the study period. Replacement of the thymus parenchyma with adipose and connective tissue begins after 2 months and progresses with an increase in the study period. A tendency to wavelike changes in biogenic amines was revealed, after 1 month there is a significant increase in the level of histamine and a decrease in serotonin and catecholamines, after 2 months an increase in all biogenic amines, especially histamine (1.5 times or more) in premedullary and mast cells, thymocytes of the cortex. After 3 months, on the contrary, there is a decrease in histamine and an increase in the level of monoamines. The ratio (serotonin+histamine)/catecholamines after 1 month indicate a decrease in the functional activity of the thymus, and after 3 months - about its increase. At all stages of the study, degranulated forms of mast cells predominate. In the dynamics of the experiment, an increase in the number of dendritic cells, lymphocytes, and twice the number of macrophages and Bcl-2+cells was revealed. The data obtained in the course of the study suggested that the introduction of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and the subsequent development of a breast tumor is reflected in the change in the morphofunctional state of the thymus. In this case, the greatest changes were observed 2 months after the end of the administration of the carcinogen, even before the formation of a breast tumor. The data obtained can have a certain value in determining the immune status in models of experimental carcinogenesis.
Introduction. E-cadherin participates in the formation of intercellular junctions and protects the epitheliocytes of the gums from apoptosis and regulates proliferation in them. The effect of a diode laser on intercellular contacts, proliferation, and apoptosis of gum epitheliocytes at various ages remains poorly studied. The purpose of the paper was to conduct a comparative analysis of the proliferative and apoptotic activity of human gingival epitheliocytes and their intercellular interaction in chronic inflammation, as well as in age-related diode laser therapy. Materials and methods.The study included patients with and without periodontal inflammation (30 patients in each group). The subjects were divided into 2 age groups: group I included patients aged 20–40 years, whereas group II – 41–60 years. Each age group was divided into subgroups: the control subgroup (patients without gingival inflammation); subgroup with periodontal inflammation (patients with chronic periodontitis); and subgroup after laser therapy (patients after therapy with 940-nm Prometey diode laser). We performed immunohistochemical studies using monoclonal antibodies to Ki-67, p53, E-cadherin; as well as computer morphometry and statistical data analysis. Results. Periodontitis combines a decrease in the number of both proliferating epitheliocytes and E-cadherin-positive intercellular contacts in the basal and spiny layers of the gum epithelium in both young and mature adults (p=0.00002). Exposure of a diode laser has a positive effect on the proliferative activity of epithelial cells and significantly increases the number of E-cadherin-positive intercellular contacts in the basal layer (p=0.00002), but does not affect the expression of p53 (p=0.9) in the gum epithelium in all age groups. Conclusion. Exposure of a diode laser increases the proliferation/apoptosis index in the gingival epithelium and brings the expression of E-cadherin closer to the control values. Keywords: gingival epithelium, chronic periodontitis, diode laser, Ki-67, p53, E-cadherin